Congress of Communist Party of China

Colourful photos of China's Communist Party Congress
Paramilitary policemen hold their fists in front of a flag of Communist Party of China as they attend an oath-taking rally to ensure the safety of the upcoming 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), at a military base in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province November 5, 2012.

China's ruling communist elite began a closed-door meeting on Nov. 8 to finalize preparations for a painstakingly choreographed but still fraught transfer of power to a younger generation of leaders. The meeting of the policy-setting Central Committee is its last before the Communist Party leadership will begin to hand over power to younger colleagues in a once-a-decade political transition.

Beijing is tightening security as its all-important Communist Party congress approaches, and some of the measures seem bizarre. Most of the security measures were implemented in time for opening of a meeting of the Central Committee.