Rescue workers observe three minutes’ silence as a mark of respect to the victims of the earthquake in China’s Sichuan province.

Flags at half-mast as the country begins three days of mourning for quake victims

Flags flew at half-mast, public entertainment was cancelled and 1.3 billion people were asked to observe three minutes of silence yesterday as China began three days of mourning for victims of the country's massive earthquake.

Officials asked for the horns of cars, trains and ships and air raid sirens to sound as people fell silent at 2.28pm (1.28pm Bangkok time) - exactly one week after the quake killed an estimated 50,000 people.

The Olympic torch relay also was suspended during the mourning period.

First time in history

It was the first time China has had a period of mourning for anyone other than a national leaders such as Mao Zedong or Deng Xiaoping.

The Chinese national flag in Tiananmen Square fluttered at half staff. The State Council, China's cabinet, ordered all "public entertainment activities" suspended during the mourning. China's National Grand Theatre will also cancel or postpone all performances.

Reports said many bars, nightclubs, karaoke parlours and movie theatres had stopped business in Beijing, Shenyang and Changsha.

Several newspapers printed their logos in black and some ran without colour. The front page headlines read "The nation mourns", "Pray for life" and "National tragedy".