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Jiang Zemin: in black and white, China’s internet pays tribute to former leader
- Chinese websites, social media platforms go to black and white as the country mourns former leader
- In China websites are turned black and white to mark major tragedies and historic events
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Prominent Chinese websites and social media platforms were turned to black and white on Thursday as the country paid tribute to former president Jiang Zemin.
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Jiang, who had leukaemia, died of multiple organ failure on Wednesday in Shanghai at the age of 96. As one of the country’s most influential leaders, he elevated China’s global standing and led the country’s economic integration with the rest of the world.
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Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin dies at the age of 96
Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin dies at the age of 96
Homepages of almost all mainland-based news sites, social media platforms, official government sites, and university sites were turned black and white, following official instructions to lower flags to half mast at key official buildings and all Chinese embassies until after Jiang’s funeral, which is set to take place Tuesday.
Jiang’s passing was the first death of a top Chinese leader in the internet era. Deng Xiaoping, the late paramount leader, died back in 1997.
State media websites like People’s Daily and Xinhua, as well as official government websites like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are all in “grey” mode in their homepages.
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Popular online movie and photography sites also went to black and white. On xitek.com, a photography website that displays pictures for monthly competitions, all colour photos are now black and white.
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