Beijing, Aug 8 - The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games began in the National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, in north Beijing at 8 p.m. Friday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge rose from their seats in the VIP stand to wave to a cheering crowd in the full-packed stadium.

To the melodious rhythm of the song ‘A hymn to the motherland,’ the Chinese national flag was ushered in the stadium, and hoisted with the excited and proud home crowd singing the national anthem loudly. Chinese teachers online at http://www.chinesehour.com/ would like to teach you the Chinese lyrics “Gechang Zuguo” 歌唱祖国 (A Hymn to the Motherland) right now, and you can watch the live video of the performance at the opening ceremony:

—Gēchàng zǔguó 歌唱祖国 A Hymn to the Motherland—
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Wǔxīng hóngqí yíngfēng piāoyáng
五星红旗迎风飘扬，
Five-Starred Red Flag is fluttering in the wind,

Shènglì gēshēng duōme xiǎngliàng
胜利歌声多么响亮；
With the majestic hymn of victory;

Gēchàng wǒmen qīnài de zǔguó
歌唱我们亲爱的祖国，
We sing in praise of our beloved motherland,

Cóngjīn zǒuxiàng fánróng fùqiáng.
从今走向繁荣富强。
Toward a prosperous and strong nation.

Gēchàng wǒmen qīnài de zǔguó
歌唱我们亲爱的祖国，
We sing in praise of our beloved motherland,

Cóngjīn zǒuxiàng fánróng fùqiáng.
从今走向繁荣富强。
Toward a prosperous and strong nation.

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Yuèguò gāoshān, yuèguò píngyuán.
越过高山，越过平原，
Across the mountains and the plains,

Kuàguò bēnténg de huánghé chángjiāng,
跨过奔腾的黄河长江；
Over the turbulent Yellow River and Yangtze,

Kuānguǎng měilì de tǔdì,
宽广美丽的土地，
The beautiful and vast land,

Shì wǒmen qīnài de jiāxiāng,
是我们亲爱的家乡，
Stands our beloved motherland.

Wǒmen ài hépíng, wǒmen ài jiāxiāng,
我们爱和平，我们爱家乡，
We love peace and our hometown.

Wǒmen tuánjié yǒuài jiānqiáng rú gāng.
我们团结友爱坚强如钢。
The unity and mutual love makes us steel-like strong.

-Repeat-