When the fireworks went off at the Bird's Nest, it set off a fiery reaction on the streets south of the national stadium.
Thousands of Chinese, who chose not to stay home and watch the celebrations on television as officials suggested, took to the streets to catch a glimpse of the fireworks that went off not just from the stadium but from apartment buildings nearby.
That started a rush of spectators who had been pushed back behind yellow “limit line” tape. Police officers manhandled several people in an effort to keep order. Officers also yelled at the crowd via bullhorns not to push because it was “dangerous” and to protect the older people and children who were at the front of the pack.
The situation got so chaotic one man was overhead yelling into his cell phone, “I'm going somewhere to watch it on TV.”
He Zhenzhen, a 20-year-old migrant worker from Shandong province, approached foreign reporters who were taking pictures of the scuffle that ensued to express her concern about how the international media only portrays the bad things that occur in China.
“I don't mind the foreign media from reporting the truth, but I hope they can report the good things about China,” she said.
Wang Tong, a 19-year-old student studying French in Beijing, stood among the throngs of people south of the stadium, hoping to see something of the festivities.
Originally from Hunan province, he said that it didn't matter that he wouldn't actually see the pageantry of the ceremony, which he could have enjoyed by staying home.
"Because the feeling is different at home,” he explained. “There's not the atmosphere."
People congregated by the thousands in and around Tiananmen Square, where they waved flags and wore stickers bearing the Chinese flag.
"We want to express our feelings,” said one Chinese woman at the historic site after asking a guard when the display would begin, “We are so happy," she added before hurrying off to find a spot to settle in.
Some enthusiasts even stopped their cars on the sides of freeways to see and photograph the fireworks, which ended the opening ceremonies.
It was all reminiscent of the day in 2001 when Beijing city residents poured into the streets, hugging one another, to celebrate their city being chosen to host the Games.
