President Xi Jinping expressed deep condolences to Wang Yeping, Jiang Zemin's wife, and other family members on Monday in Beijing. LI XUEREN XINHUA Jiang Zemin honored by top leaders, family, members of the public amid solemn scenes in Beijing
The nation was in deep sorrow on Monday as it said a final farewell to Jiang Zemin, with top leaders, family members and thousands of people paying tribute to the former Chinese leader who passed away in Shanghai on Wednesday at the age of 96.
President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders gave a good farewell to Jiang and escorted his remains to the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing on Monday as people lined the streets along the route of the cortege in honor of the late Chinese leader.
Xi and other leaders paid a solemn tribute to Jiang at the Chinese PLA General Hospital, where a black banner read "Eternal glory to Comrade Jiang Zemin and a large portrait of Jiang Zemin were displayed.
A flag of the Communist Party of China was draped over Jiang's body, which was resting among flowers and cypresses, with a four-member honor guard standing solemnly beside him.
In front of the body was a basket of flowers presented by Wang Yeping, Jiang's wife, on behalf of the whole family. A ribbon on the basket read: You will live forever in our hearts. Flower baskets presented by Xi and other senior leaders, the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Central Military Commission, non-CPC political parties, mass organizations and people from all walks of life in Beijing were also displayed in the room.
Xi, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Han Zheng, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Wang Qishan and the former Chinese leader Hu Jintao stood in silent tribute and bowed three times in front of Jiang's body to pay their respects and honor the memory of the late Chinese leader Hu Jintao.
READ MORE: Xi, other comrades visited Jiang in hospital or sent condolences.
They expressed deep condolences to Jiang's wife and other family members.
President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders bid farewell to Jiang Zemin before his remains were escorted to the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing for cremation on Monday. LI XUEREN XINHUA At 10: 15 am, Jiang's casket was carried by an honor guard of eight to a hearse, accompanied by Xi and other senior leaders.
The hearse, escorted by the leaders, members of the office of Comrade Jiang Zemin's Funeral Committee and Jiang's family, then proceeded to Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.
As it made its slow, somber journey, it passed through streets lined with crowds of people from all walks of life in deep grief as they stood in silence in honor of the late leader.
The hearse arrived at the cemetery at 10: 45 am, where the leaders and Jiang's family bade their final farewell to the late Chinese leader.
After he passed away, Xi and other Chinese leaders had visited Jiang when he was in the hospital or offered their condolences to his family.
A letter addressed to the nation praised Jiang as an outstanding leader whose high prestige is acknowledged by all members of the Party, the entire military and the Chinese people.
Jiang served as the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee from 1989 to 2002 as the core of the CPC's third generation of collective leadership.