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

Beijing's flag-raising ceremony began at 4:57 a.m. this morning in Tian'anmen Square. The flag was then lowered to half-mast. All national flags in China and at overseas Chinese institutions will be flown at half-mast during the three-day mourning period from today (Monday) to Wednesday. All public entertainment has also been cancelled. Condolence books will be opened at the Foreign Ministry and China's embassies and consulates worldwide.

The nation will observe three minutes of silence starting from 2:28 p.m. on Monday, exactly a week after the quake struck. Cars, trains and ships are to sound their horns.

(CCTV May 19, 2008)