At a propitious confluence of 8s, traditionally considered so favourable, at 8 pm on 8.8.08, the opening ceremony began, condensing in an hour five thousand years of Chinese civilization in a spectacular feat of symbolism and historical sweep. With unprecedented attendance by world leaders — including Sonia Gandhi, Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush — one of China’s most well-known filmmakers, Zhang Yimou, artistic director of the opening ceremony, used a contemporary aesthetic to harness the epic scale of Chinese dance drama, adding to its grandeur precision and synchronization.