Beijing to join worldwide New Year countdown

Beijing will hold its unique New Year countdown by lighting a gigantic ball at the China Millennium Monument, an official from the Beijing Municipal government said on Thursday.

Cities around the world mark the New Year with unique celebrations, including the dropping of the crystal ball in New York City's Times Square and Big Ben's "bongs" in London. This year, Beijing is joining in with a unique lighting ceremony.

A group of spot lights will be used to create a colossal pillar of lights, said Zeng Hui, assistant to the general manager of Beijing Gehua Cultural Development Group, which is in charge of the lighting project.

"There are 46 giant spot lights clinging together to form a pillar of light with a diameter of 11 meters," Zeng said. "Theoretically, the light beam can reach as high as 5,000 meters regardless of the weather."

Dubbed "Light of Beijing", the ceremony will begin at 11:30 pm on New Year's Eve at the south square of China Millennium Monument. The lights will change colors, and when the New Year arrives, the light will turn white and project a gigantic pillar of light into the sky. The ceremony end at 12:30 pm, said Zeng.

"If weather permits, people living in Beijing will have a chances to see the light without going to the ceremony spot," Zeng said.

"The lighting project will have its final test on Dec 29," he said.

Beijing's countdown will be broadcasted live and seen around the world, according to the Beijing government.

"The light of Beijing New Year countdown will be held annually and regarded as a cultural landmark of Beijing," Zeng said.