China begins three-day mourning

China has begun three-days of national mourning for the tens of thousands of people killed in the

China's national flag flies at half-mast after the flagraising ceremony on Tian'anmen Square in Beijing Monday morning, May 19, 2008. China on Monday begins a three-day national mourning for the tens of thousands of people  killed in a powerful earthquake which struck the country's southwest on May 12. (Xinhua Photo)

8.0 earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12th. Earlier on Monday at 4:58 a.m. the national flag at Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing was lowered to half-mast after the traditional ceremony began with a full, flag-raising ceremony.

All national flags will fly at half-mast at home and at Chinese diplomatic missions abroad from Monday to Wednesday. Public recreational activities will be halted during the mourning period.

At 2:28 p.m. on Monday Chinese citizens nationwide will stand in silence for three minutes to mourn the victims of the earthquake in Sichuan Province. Meanwhile, air raid sirens and horns of automobiles, trains and ships will also mark the tragic moment. During the mourning period, condolence books will be opened in China's Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates around the world. The Olympic Torch Relay for the Beijing Summer Olympic Games will also be suspended for three days, beginning on Monday.

China has begun three days of mourning for victims of last Monday's earthquake in Sichuan Province.