By Calum MacLeod
Chinese visitors enjoy a temporary McDonald's outlet at the Shanghai Auto Show venue in April 2009.
BEIJING — By dawn, thousands of Chinese stood in Tiananmen Square to commemorate the day 64 years ago that Chairman Mao proclaimed the birth of the People's Republic of China.
The more than 100,000 visitors also left something behind between Mao's embalmed body and his huge portrait on Tiananmen Gate: 5 tons of trash strewn on the ground.
The mass littering reignited a national debate about patriotism and public behavior in China, where food-wrapping, bottles, fruit peels and wastepaper often wind up on the ground instead of in trash cans and spitting and cutting in lines are common.
"Today is our motherland's birthday, we cheer, we cherish. Please leave behind only your respect, take trash away," tweeted the national broadcaster CCTV on Sina Weibo on Tuesday.
"Enjoy a happy holiday time, and don't forget to take away your trash," pleaded the Beijing city government, rather belatedly, on the same micro-blogging service Wednesday.
From social inequality to deadly air, China faces far greater problems than thoughtless trash disposal.
Chinese visitors enjoy a temporary McDonald's outlet at the Shanghai Auto Show venue in April 2009.
BEIJING — By dawn, thousands of Chinese stood in Tiananmen Square to commemorate the day 64 years ago that Chairman Mao proclaimed the birth of the People's Republic of China.
The more than 100,000 visitors also left something behind between Mao's embalmed body and his huge portrait on Tiananmen Gate: 5 tons of trash strewn on the ground.
The mass littering reignited a national debate about patriotism and public behavior in China, where food-wrapping, bottles, fruit peels and wastepaper often wind up on the ground instead of in trash cans and spitting and cutting in lines are common.
"Today is our motherland's birthday, we cheer, we cherish. Please leave behind only your respect, take trash away," tweeted the national broadcaster CCTV on Sina Weibo on Tuesday.
"Enjoy a happy holiday time, and don't forget to take away your trash," pleaded the Beijing city government, rather belatedly, on the same micro-blogging service Wednesday.
From social inequality to deadly air, China faces far greater problems than thoughtless trash disposal.
But littering is angering many Chinese and may even cause problems for the Communist Party rulers.
Online, some Chinese blamed the political system.
Online, some Chinese blamed the political system.
Others suggested that the Chinese could learn something from the more public-spirited Americans.
"There is no law in China, so chaos comes," Shanghai writer Liu Xiangru said.
"We should learn from abroad and fine people so much they don't dare throw trash anywhere," he said, claiming Yellowstone Park in the United States imposes fines of up to $5,000 for littering.
"There is no law in China, so chaos comes," Shanghai writer Liu Xiangru said.
"We should learn from abroad and fine people so much they don't dare throw trash anywhere," he said, claiming Yellowstone Park in the United States imposes fines of up to $5,000 for littering.
"This way we could ensure China is no longer the Trash State!"
Tiananmen Square is best known abroad for the 1989 democracy demonstrations that ended in a massacre by the Chinese military.
Tiananmen Square is best known abroad for the 1989 democracy demonstrations that ended in a massacre by the Chinese military.
At home, where Chinese censors prevent any mention or discussion of that event, the square is a major draw for Chinese tourists visiting the capital.
Its daily flag-raising represents a rare free event.
Many Chinese online accused the attendees of Tuesday's National Day ceremony of being poor patriots for scattering trash during the flag-raising.
Many Chinese online accused the attendees of Tuesday's National Day ceremony of being poor patriots for scattering trash during the flag-raising.
In a provocative micro-blog post, Shanghai's Oriental Morning Post newspaper called such people "patriotic worms."
The Beijing News said their behavior reflects social morality, not patriotic failings.
"Do you act the same way in your own home, spitting and littering everywhere?" asked Wu Di, a Beijing cross-talk actor, on Sina Weibo.
"Do you act the same way in your own home, spitting and littering everywhere?" asked Wu Di, a Beijing cross-talk actor, on Sina Weibo.
"If you think you've done enough damage, go back home as soon as possible, Beijing doesn't welcome this kind of people."
But coarse public behavior has long been an issue in China.
A pre-Olympics campaign in 2008 to improve Beijing's manners was the most high-profile of several attempts in recent years to soften China's public behavior, including spitting, littering and cutting in lines.
This year, the southern city of Shenzhen enacted a "Civilized Behavior Promotion Law," China's first, including fines for litterers.
But coarse public behavior has long been an issue in China.
A pre-Olympics campaign in 2008 to improve Beijing's manners was the most high-profile of several attempts in recent years to soften China's public behavior, including spitting, littering and cutting in lines.
This year, the southern city of Shenzhen enacted a "Civilized Behavior Promotion Law," China's first, including fines for litterers.
Several other cities are also introducing or increasing fines, or forcing transgressors to clean the streets.
After repeated complaints about the behavior of members of Chinese tour groups here and overseas, authorities here issued online Tuesday the "Guidebook for Civilized Tourism."
After repeated complaints about the behavior of members of Chinese tour groups here and overseas, authorities here issued online Tuesday the "Guidebook for Civilized Tourism."
This 64-page rule book asks Chinese travelers headed overseas, often for the first time, to avoid littering, spitting, shouting, wasting food, carving graffiti, nose-picking, and to not urinate in swimming pools.
Some Chinese hope their nation looks more deeply into why citizens of other countries seem to care more about public spaces.
Some Chinese hope their nation looks more deeply into why citizens of other countries seem to care more about public spaces.
There are suggestions it may have something to do with the way China is ruled.
"When I went to America, I couldn't figure out why the common people in the country that promotes individualism are so very public-spirited, but people in the country imbued with collectivism (China) are instead indifferent and selfish," wrote Wang Weijia, a businessman in Beijing.
"Later I understood, only if one respects individuals can you get respect from individuals."
Li Nuoyan, a blogger on social issues, highlighted the weakness of "The people" in China's socialist system where the Communist Party has ruled unopposed and unelected for over six decades.
"When they criticize you for running red lights or littering, then they say you are a citizen," wrote Li, who is based in southwest China's Sichuan province.
"When I went to America, I couldn't figure out why the common people in the country that promotes individualism are so very public-spirited, but people in the country imbued with collectivism (China) are instead indifferent and selfish," wrote Wang Weijia, a businessman in Beijing.
"Later I understood, only if one respects individuals can you get respect from individuals."
Li Nuoyan, a blogger on social issues, highlighted the weakness of "The people" in China's socialist system where the Communist Party has ruled unopposed and unelected for over six decades.
"When they criticize you for running red lights or littering, then they say you are a citizen," wrote Li, who is based in southwest China's Sichuan province.
"When you process your identity card, they say you're a resident; when you're electing national leaders, they say you're the people, and must be 'represented,' so votes will be cast through people's deputies."
Some Chinese say things are actually improving.
Popular blogger Sun Jie on Sina Weibo said 8 tons of trash was left behind on last year's National Day ceremony in Tiananmen, a figure also cited by CCTV.
Some Chinese say things are actually improving.
Popular blogger Sun Jie on Sina Weibo said 8 tons of trash was left behind on last year's National Day ceremony in Tiananmen, a figure also cited by CCTV.
Sun said the 2005 total was 19 tons, although the 2012 and 2005 figures may cover longer periods of National Day, and larger collection areas.
Down in "China's Hawaii," tropical Hainan Island, where extra trash cans were installed for last month's Mid-Autumn Festival, trash volumes fell significantly compared with last year's scenes of beaches deep in trash after crowds gathered to watch the full moon, reported the Nanguo Metropolis Daily.
"We still have a lot of work to do," said Wang Tao, who leads a volunteer group, the Green Woodpeckers, to encourage more civil behavior in China's capital and nationwide.
Down in "China's Hawaii," tropical Hainan Island, where extra trash cans were installed for last month's Mid-Autumn Festival, trash volumes fell significantly compared with last year's scenes of beaches deep in trash after crowds gathered to watch the full moon, reported the Nanguo Metropolis Daily.
"We still have a lot of work to do," said Wang Tao, who leads a volunteer group, the Green Woodpeckers, to encourage more civil behavior in China's capital and nationwide.
"Some Chinese people have only just become rich, and many of them are still poor, use up all their time struggling for a better life, and have no time to improve their social morality."
"Now the fine is just $5 to $8 in Beijing," said Wang, whose group risks insult and even injury when asking people to pick up their cigarette butts or when they hand folks a tissue to wipe up their spit.
"Now the fine is just $5 to $8 in Beijing," said Wang, whose group risks insult and even injury when asking people to pick up their cigarette butts or when they hand folks a tissue to wipe up their spit.
"The government must do more publicity, and introduce severe penalties.
"I think at least $16 to $32 is effective to stop the bad behavior," he said.
"I think at least $16 to $32 is effective to stop the bad behavior," he said.
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