All credit goes to MAO who created a chinese Utopia. One chinese race, their god and the Universe.

Kwang Up, Ocean Country, USA

Beijing Olympics is great.... I'm sure our friends in China must be very proud of it. Even as a neighbour I can share the joy and pride of this grand moment.

Long live our Pout-Phaw Relationship!

Martin Maung, Mandalay, Burma

A most impressive show, yes; London will be hard-pressed to match it in 2012. But bear in mind that whenever a one-party state has hosted an Olympics, ten years later they were circling the drain if not already down it. So look for serious changes in China around 2018.

T. J. Cassidy, Arlington, VA, U.S.A.

Why so few comments here by Westerners ...? - only 16 out of 63, and less than half of them complementry...!!! Can it be down to an overall Western sense of hostility, modesty or inferiority...?
OK, let's just call it modesty - and after a show like that the West sure has plenty to be modest about!

Joanna Jay, Walton on Thames, UK

It's easy to criticise the Chinese but no other government has any experience of managing a country containing 1.5 billion people. A population 25 times our own filling a vastly greater territory; Gordon Brown wouldn't have a clue where to start. And 400 million Scots, God help us.

Danny, London,

One word to Chineese posters: Drowning foreign posters with your own posts doesn't look good at all for your country. For praise to be heard it must be heard from outdide. True followers of confucius know this.

That said, nice ceremony, but still much to do in China for human rights.

BobMarley, Oaradise, Heaven

...meanwhile in the UK...London 2012 is canceled!

(we gave all the money to Northern Rock)

A Harris, Kettering, UK

The beijing opening ceremony is a brilliant invitation that putting your hands in front of "you and me ",looking forwards to one dream and say it softly that : people of one world,we are family.

frank, Huibei, China

For China to be a true super power like USA is very far away, in fact may not ever happen, but their Olympics show is really impressive and enjoyable and worth thousands compliments!

daisuke, delhi, India

A wee bit 1936 if you ask me. Those goosestepping soldiers with the Chinese flag chilled me to the bone
Tim Rankin, Bowral, Australia

That's all it takes to scare you, Tim? Sure you're Australian?

simo jenkins, edinburgh,

A wee bit 1936 if you ask me. Those goosestepping soldiers with the Chinese flag chilled me to the bone

Tim Rankin, Bowral, Australia

We know in China there are still many problems, but we Chinese make big efforts to make progress as well as show our peaceful and hamonious ideas to the world, just come to China and say hello, everyone will find it better than some media describes, that is it

Dibo Xu, Ningbo, China

What an absolute waste of money and resources. Imagine for a second what could have been done in China using those resources for something less self indulgent/ self serving. I for one am not proud that the 2012 games will be in my country as I expect the same will follow here.

james kinnersley, Gainsborough, England

awestruck, good word, it represent the true feeling of some guys of China. let it be.

Jovian, YiChang, China

If one only sees the enmity from an amicable gesture like that, or if one only comes up with comments like "reek of Communist propaganda from such a magnificent ceremony, he/she probably needs time to overcome the adolescent arrogance.

Aegir, Hong Kong, China

I feel so proud of my country!
Welcom friends from all the world come to china!

Candy, jiangsu, china

i don't like china in some aspect, but
so may prejudice against china.
make me prejudice against you .

cnheying, chongqing, china

I hope all the people can enjoy yourselves ,regardless of the politics and other things.

Betty Lee, Wuhan,China,

An open ceremony can not hide any problem china has, but shows how beautiful and optimistic chinese people are. Please respect every cultures, individuals, and changes china has constantly made for decades.

fei, beijing, China

The opening ceremony is so fatastic.I was so excited and moved that my eyes full of tears,my hands and feet even trembled,for some time.Really really wonderful.Director Zhang Yimou has done of very good job.

pollyanna, Tianjin, China

So many different voices even in China. But I love the opening so much. Did you hear the Chinese audience giving big applause to both Iraq and US delegations? I was deeply moved then. It is a time to forget politics, cultural difference, war (or cold war) and nations. Let's play the game.

Serena, Beijing, China

Welcome to China.
I feel proud now,
I hope that more and more friends can come to our country
and understand this old nation better .
Welcom!

felix, Beijing, China

The Western press, even after last night's opening ceremony still does not get it. We have no right to try and apply our regimes on a country as diverse and huge as China. What just about works (?) for a country of 60 million ( Uk) won' t work for 1.3billion. Give credit where credit is due.

sheila graham, london, UK

It's all a bunch of CHICOM Bull hockey - The point is, what next? In real terms of a military, commercial, or political import?
My best guess is that the curse of 888 follows with the fall of the Three Gorges Dam on some other auspiciously numbered date, so as to continue the $ decline

Rick a Hyatt, Saratoga WY, USA

i have bee watching olympic opening ceremonies and this one is the best.... i am proud to be an asian...

edsu, philippines

eddie o senturias, antipolo city, philippines

I am a 2nd generation Singaporean of overseas Chinese descent and I still preferred the simplicity of Athens Olympics. The Beijing Opening Ceremony reeked of Communist propaganda, masses of humans subjected to drilled discipline, goose stepping of soldiers carrying the flag reminded me of Nth Korea

tan, singapore, singapore

It was the most beautiful show I have ever seen. I hope, I can visit China before I die.

Aydin Zaptcioglu, Istanbul, Turkey

welcome to China.I know,there are still a large number of people have bias against China.But come here by yourselves.you will have your new opinion.

Sophie, Chongqing, China

I am so excited and proud of my great country ！
well done， the 29th opening ceremony of the Olympic Games ！

chickly, xiamen, china

Welcome to China! Tolerance is one of good character for you, we will show you a peace, harmonious, gemutlich China. Thank you!

Jadge Pan, Guangzhou, China

China, congratulations!!!!!!!!. Londoners, are you sure you still want to go ahead with the 2012 Olympics?. RAF aircrafts expelling coloured smoke won´t be enough.

Mage, Buenos Aires,

As a Chinese I am so proud of my motherland which has a long beautiful history and bright futrue.Second I must point out that Tibet and Tiawan are part of China and people there will also be so proud of their motherland.

sunny , zhoushan, China

I am a Chinese, live in Shanghai. I am not understand why above guy want to relate Olympic with politics. It is really fastidium. Taiwan is a historical carry-over, and none of Chinese will allow Taiwan to be divided from China, not only the government.

Chandler, Shanghai, China

Dustin, Tibet has been part of China for some 800 years now. Before China recognizes one of its provinces as "free", the US may think about returning Mexico all the states stolen from them.

John Charles, Beijing, China

IMPRESSIVE Pretty obvious they managed without Spielberg

SAm, Auckland, New Zealand

First of all i want to say this is my great time in my life,as a Chinese person,I'm pride of my hometown.Then i just tell you it's not even wonderful in Chinese eyes.But when we sing our songs together."my family" is more than cry!

Neverthenless,i hope everyone enjoy his\her time in China

Gao Wenjie, Yichang,Hubei, China

The only reason should anyone mentions free this, that out of China, is knowing little about her, its past, now and the future, which are far more complicated than you can imagine. One advice:read more academic books rather than media, newspaper as these 'Fast food' can only make you brianless.

Jason L, Southampton,

The guy who named Dustin, Anderson from USA with the words "The announcement of China's recognition of Tibet and Tiawan as free and seperate nations would be a crowning moment for the closing ceremony." should be ashamed of what you have said. never let politics smirch the olympics

Ross White, Luzhou, China

August 8th olympic opening ceremony rdeeply and ingeniously reflects the idea of Olympic sports spirit and the essence of ancient and mordern Chinese culture, which definately proves desicion that IOc chosed world's populus country to hold this year's Olympics is correct. Welcome to beijing!

jiannan, beijing,

TO Dustin, Anderson, USA

Then I want to hear Mr. Bush announce US are guilty for Iraq people...

FF, JInan, China

Every Chinese should be extremely proud and excited to tears as it is the moment we have waited for years , and it is just the chance we have present ourselve sto the outside a new image : a complete new China , vigorous ,friendly and ready to be march forward with the rest of the world

lala , Beijing ,

One World, One Dream. Four words and a simple message. Well done Beijing and China - last night's astounding display reminds us just why the Olympics is the greatest Games on Earth and why those four words embody what the next 16 days is actually about. Sport.

Guy DD, Beijing, China

Brilliant! As an exercise in cattiness this article is as spectacular as last night's fantastic display.

Just one little question though. If your correspondent thinks that Hu Jintao is not entitled to sit in the place of honour, who is? G W Bush?

Bill, Suzhou, China

All our Chinese felt PROUD of our opening ceremony. It's not about our creation but about our passion..If you really enjoy the show and want to know more about China , please come to China . WELCOME TO CHINA!

Lynn, Shanghai, China

Li Ning lighted the fire .Is it cool?I think it shows kung fu.

kevin, chongqing, china

welcome to china!

jackey fong, Shanghai city, china

2004 cosmopolitan to its core - 2008 epic kitsch

Nikos, melbourne, australia

A show put on by a country that is proud of its history, proud of its achievements and is proud to hosting the Olympic games.
It was a fantastic spectacle and I can only hope the action on the track, field, river and boxing ring can be at least half as good as the opening ceremony.
Well done China

David Davies, Darwen, Lancashire, UK

As the theme of the 29th Olympics shows" One World, One Dream", we gather together for one dream and let's get rid of all bias and work for this dream. Wish this Olympics a great success and welcome you all to come to China to see what it is in China, rather than just to hear and see what it's shown

weiwei, Shenzhen, China

Thank you for your objective coverage that show the world a more real Olympic opening ceremony. But as to the real aspect of China, people all around the world should come to China and see what it is, not just from the media or one or two events that happened recently. Go, China!

Martin Yu, Xiamen, China

It was a big day for people all around the world! We are proud of our motherland!

OJ, Shanghai, China

I love my country.I hope westerners can understand our Chinese.We are friends,not enemies.Let's enjoy the great moment together!

Wang Ran, Nanyang, China

how can i say?incredible is the only word in my head,i wanna remind someone:the Olympics is a sporting event and not a political event,it's a great festival for all sports-loving people,
if you are not one of them,then you shouldn't judge

Tang Yi, Xinjiang, china

I think the world is a little richer today. This is the China that those of us who live here have always known and loved. Come and visit.

Alan Boyd, Beijing, China

I read a lot of very frightening comments from westerners. They just can not see the truth and they can not tolerate the rise of China. I am scared to death the comments I heard from those narrow-minded people. China has opened arms and tried to make friends, but those people see the opposite.

julie, miami, us

I'm not familiar with your social system ,but I don't understand why the foreigners always treat China as a threaten.What's more ,You always think Tibet and Tiawan should be seperate from China,but, you know,we are all Chinses.If a few people want to seperate Florida from the USA,will you agree?

Liangyingyu, Guangzhou, China

Why Tibet and Tiawan should be announced as free and seperate nations? You really should come to China and see what is real voice of local people ,and not only the politic and medium let you to hear.

Frances, CQ, China

Congratulations to China and to Beijing for a wonderful opening ceremony and for the fantastic work of the past seven years in preparation for this day. This is a very positive moment for China and the World. Congratulations once again.

Bruce, Beijing, China

I am really awestruck and proud of the Mega show.
WELL DONE director Zhang Yimou and his team.

Vincent, China, Earth

I am so happy that China has succeed in hoding the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games .As a chinese ,I am so proud.

xudanchen, wuhan, China

I once heard a lecture made by the ambassador of Israel,when asked about the relationship between the states and China, he made his point that we shall never believe in mass medium.Please do respect every country.As a country flowing over 5000 years,it has many things related to its culture.

taylen, beijing, China

it was fatanstic and magnificent...i love it!

zhou guohong, shanghai, China

Why are there so many people coming to visit with several purposes? Olympic Games are for the peaceful moment to communicate and share the successes and friendship, not the one to fight or negotiate or quarrel.

Frankbeard, Xiaogan, China

Thank you, for an intelligent, positive and comprehensive coverage of the ceremony for what it is. The BBC's adolescent sneering and reductive bias really showed them up. Good for the Chinese people - let's congratulate them on a fantastic achievement.

Amy Allen, London,

China is a great country with long history,it's a chance to show its charm to the world in the time.Certainly,China is not perfectly now.I hope it will make progress in developing of economy in science and technology in politics democracy constantly.

Zhen.shao, Kaifeng, China

It was good to see how Gordon Brown supported the British Olympians.

Ian, Reading, England

These is Chinas' chance to show the beauty of its culture. It is also a chance to show the world it's compassion. The announcement of China's recognition of Tibet and Tiawan as free and seperate nations would be a crowning moment for the closing ceremony.

Dustin, Anderson, USA