The Chinese people have been celebrating the return from political exile of former Vice-Premier Teng Hsiao-Ping by holding noisy street parades and demonstrations through major cities, including the capital, Peking. A year ago, the 74-year-old Mr Teng was branded a "capitalist roader" and one of the three great traitors to Maoism. Today, he stands number three in the Chinese hierarchy and is seen as a favourite to become Premier after Chairman Hue.

SYNOPSIS: In Peking; hundreds of thousands of people trooped cheerfully through torrential rain cheering the final humiliation of the radicals who twice brought about Mr Teng's downfall. They came on foot and in lorries and were waving flags and banners. One foreign diplomat described Peking as "the world's noisiest city".

The huge crowd included civilians as well as army officers who gathered in the capital's Tien An Men Square before parading through the streets. A photograph of Mr Teng was published on the front page of the People's Daily and his name was painted up in thousand of wall posters.

In Peking, as Well as Shanghai and other cities, millions marched in support of the leadership amid the deafening din of fireworks, music and drums. Arts troupes danced and bands played music completely unmindful of the downpour. The demonstrations followed the appearance earlier last week (19 July) of wall posters announcing the latest political developments. The marchers were also celebrating the expulsion from the Communist Party of the so-called "Gang of four" radicals. They included Mao Tse-Tung's widow Chaing Ching. The four were arrested last October and accused of plotting a coup.