Beijing Olympics: Opening ceremony

Percussionists played fou drums at the start of the ceremony Photograph: Joe Klamar/AFP

Performers created a spectacluar light show Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach /Reuters

The Chinese national flag Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty

Soldiers stood to attention as fireworks went off Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini /AFP

The Olympic rings were raised in the stadium Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

An actress performing at the opening ceremony Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

Fireworks explode over the Bird's Nest stadium Photograph: Reinhard Krause/Reuters

Performers with oars in formation Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP

People struggled to get into Tiananmen Square to watch the opening ceremony on screens Photograph: Nir Elias/Reuters

A crowd of 91,000 watched the spectacle Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty

A young dancer performed while suspended in the air Photograph: Streeter Lecka/Getty

Dancers demonstrated Chinese martial arts Photograph: Streeter Lecka /Getty

Dancers in glowing attire Photograph: Streeter Lecka/Getty

A performer dressed as an astronaut Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Children representing Chinese ethnic groups Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA

Performers walked around a floating sphere while the Chinese singer Liu Huan and the British singer Sarah Brightman sang the official theme song for the Games Photograph: Luca Bruno/AP

Performers wore traditional costume Photograph: Diego Azubel/EPA

Boxes inscribed with Chinese characters were part of the performance Photograph: Ezra Shaw/Getty

The former Chinese gymnast Li Ning carries the Olympic flame around the top of the stadium Photograph: David Gray/ Reuters

Li Ning lights the Olympic flame Photograph: David Gray /Reuters

Li Ning lights the Olympic flame Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

Fireworks explode to mark the end of the ceremony Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty