MORE than 8,000 Chinese from home and abroad gathered Friday at the tomb of Huangdi, the legendary "Yellow Emperor", for a memorial ceremony on Friday, national tomb-sweeping day.

Huangdi is considered the common ancestor of all the Chinese.

The memorial ceremony began in Huangling County, Shaanxi Province, at 9:50 a.m.. That's an auspicious time because of the digits' association with the imperial line in ancient Chinese culture. The number nine is the biggest single-digit number, while five lies in the middle.

A drum was beaten 34 times, once for each of China's 34 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and special administrative regions.

Yuan Chunqing, the governor of Shaanxi, delivered a memorial speech.

"May the Olympics promote the Chinese spirit. May the Chinese mainland and Taiwan reunite soon," he read. The address was followed by traditional dances in tribute to the Yellow Emperor.

Huangdi, a sovereign and cultural hero in Chinese legend, is believed to have reigned from 2,697 BC to 2,598 BC. Although he was an actual ruler, his deeds have been embellished over time. For example, he has been credited with introducing the systems of government and law to human kind, civilizing the Earth,teaching people many skills and inventing all manner of items.

Chen Shaochun of the veterans' association of Taoyuan County, Taiwan, left his hometown in Xingping, Shaanxi, in 1949.

Chen returned via Hong Kong this year. "It is more convenient, but I hope next time I can fly back directly from Taiwan," he said.

More than 100 million people mourned the deceased at graveyards or memorial parks and halls on Qingming, or grave-sweeping day, on Friday, the Ministry of Civil Affairs estimated.(Xinhua)