Yesterday was the 60th anniversary (Oct 1 1949-2009) of the China Communist Party and they spared no expense to celebrate. The fireworks in Chengdu, I had heard, would outnumber those used last year in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 40 minutes of non-stop fireworks, shooting from the center of Chengdu, Tianfu Square. I spent the afternoon with a handful of friends on a mountain temple in Long Quan, on the outskirts of Chengdu, and then came into town in the evening.

For all its shortcoming, the ruling party in China seems to be right on track. Security during this week, the Mid-Autumn Festival, is extremely tight but as with the Olympics, everything is going smoothly. With that said, I certainly don’t expect the C.C.P. to make it another 60 years!