China National Day Parade China formally kicked off its mass celebrations of 60 years of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics rule with a 60-gun salute that rung out across Beijing's historic Tiananmen Square earlier today. Hundreds of thousands of participants marched past Tiananmen Square in costume or uniform, with floats and dancers mingling with soldiers and military hardware. Collected here are photographs of the once-in-a-decade National Day Military parade in Beijing. pps by: Oei Hui Kiat, Singapore, early Oct. 2009.

President Hu Jintao Top Chinese state and military leader Hu Jintao on Thursday inspected the country's defense forces which will also stage a massive parade in Beijing in celebration of the 60th founding anniversary founding of New China. A black open-roof Red Flag limousine carried Hu, state president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, eastward along Chang'an Avenue from the iconic Tian'anmen Square shortly after the celebration started at 10 a.m.. Tens of thousands of soldiers and militia, together with ranks of camouflaged tanks and missiles, stood along the newly widened boulevard and waited to be inspected. The whole procession stretches some three kilometers. "Greetings, comrades!" Hu, wearing a high-collared Mao suit, saluted troops through a microphone. "Greetings, leader!" Loudly replied the soldiers in brand new uniforms. Hu then said "Comrades, you are working hard!" And the troops replied: "We serve the people!" Hu's inspection of the troops, the first in the past decade, preluded a full-dress National Day military parade involving about 8,000 military personnel. Fourteen phalanxes on feet are composed of the army, navy, air force and the Second Artillery Force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the People's Armed Police Force and reserved force. PLA's young and mysterious Special Forces made their debut for the inspection. A total of 30 phalanxes in wheeled transport displayed more than 50 types of new weapon systems manufactured by China on its own, including the newest model of intercontinental nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Other cutting-edge weaponry included China's new generation of tanks, sophisticated radar, airborne early warning and control aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and satellite communication devices. All the weapons are made in China. More than 150 jet-fighters, bombers, helicopters and other aircraft in 12 echelons will fly over the square, packed with some 200,000 people. The parade, the 14th since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, is set to showcase China's newest weaponry and enhanced defense strength.

Top Chinese state and military leader Hu Jintao inspects the country's defense forces which will also stage a massive parade in Beijing in celebration of the 60th founding anniversary founding of New China, Oct.1, 2009. (Xinhua Photo) 

Top Chinese state and military leader Hu Jintao inspects the country's defense forces which will also stage a massive parade in Beijing in celebration of the 60th founding anniversary founding of New China, Oct.1, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)

Fang Fenghui (L), Beijing Military Zone commander and military parade commander, reports to Hu Jintao (R), inviting him to inspect troops of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

Chinese President Hu Jintao reviews soldiers before a parade in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. (REUTERS/Joe Chan)

Chinese President Hu Jintao reviews the military personnel during the National Day parade.

Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, goes by car inspecting troops of the Chinese People's Liberation Army to take part in a military parade for celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in central Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua Photo) pps by: Oei Hui Kiat Singapore, early Oct. 2009

In this aerial photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, participants take part in a parade of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on Chang'an Street in central Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Xinhua)

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, the phalanx of the national flag receives inspection in a parade in Beijing of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of China on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Huang Jingwen)

China's President Hu Jintao (center) and other leaders review a parade to mark China's 60th anniversary on October 1, 2009 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

Invited guests watch the parade down Changan Ave Invited guests watch the parade down Changan Ave. in Beijing, China, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. (Nelson Ching/Bloomberg)

Chinese military personnel march toward Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Female militia unit toting submachine guns and attired in red miniskirts and white jackboots marched with precision display of military bravado.

PLA sailors march past Tiananmen Square (Feng Li/Getty Images)

Chinese officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army marched in front of Tiananmen Gate at the start of the military parade to mark the 60th China anniversary in Beijing on Thursday.

Soldiers from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) ground force march in formation past Tiananmen Square during a massive parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. (REUTERS/Jason Lee)

Army cadets march in the parade celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, in central Beijing, on Thursday Oct. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Xie Huanchi)

PLA sailors in white uniforms march past Tiananmen Square during the celebration of China's 60th anniversary on October 1, 2009 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

Air Force cadets take part in the parade of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in central Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Xiaoguo)

A man takes pictures of PLA aircraft performing a fly-over during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (LIU JIN/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinese military aircraft fly over Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

Helicopters from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force fly in formation during a massive parade to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. (REUTERS/David Gray)

PLA armored vehicles rumble past Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Armored vehicles roll down the street during a parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in central Beijing October 1, 2009. (REUTERS/Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Land forces vehicles march on the Chang'an Avenue during a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009. [Xinhua]

Armored vehicles of the Chinese armed police take part in a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009. [Xinhua]

Wheeled infantry vehicles take part in a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009. [Xinhua]

PLA tanks roll past Tiananmen Square in a massive parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing October 1, 2009. (REUTERS/Nir Elias)

Tracked automatic anti-aircraft guns are displayed in a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009. [Xinhua]

Anti-tank missile corps pass the Tian'anmen Square during a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009.

Equipment corps march through the Tian'anmen Square during a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009.[Xinhua]

(AP Photo/Vincent Thian) PLA soldiers stand on military vehicles during a military parade marking China's 60th anniversary near the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Anti-aircraft missiles take part in a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009. [Xinhua]

Radar forces vehicles march on the Chang'an Avenue during a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009.

Nuclear-capable missiles are displayed during a military parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009. [Xinhua]

Land-based cruise missiles are displayed during a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009. [Xinhua]

Naval anti-ship missiles take part in a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009.[Xinhua]

Pilotless aircraft are displayed during a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009. [Xinhua]

Communication forces vehicles march on the Chang'an Avenue during a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009. [Xinhua]

New-style conventional missiles are displayed during a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009. [Xinhua]

Long-range rocket guns are displayed during a parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, October 1, 2009. [Xinhua] 

New-style intermediate- and long-range ground-to-ground missiles are displayed during a military parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Local residents watch the military parade on TV in a shopping mall in Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan province, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. (AP Photo)

A man watches a huge overhead screen showing soldiers of the People's Liberation Army marching, at a shopping mall in Beijing, China, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)