About 200,000 soldiers and civilians gather on Tian'anmen Square and alongside Chang'an Avenue Thursday morning to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Most of them are participants of a military parade and a civilian pageant, slated for 10:00 AM in the morning.

Veteran soldiers, model workers, renowned athletes, space heroes and newly-weds are invited to join the pageant, some of them will be on floats that are designed to showcase China's achievements in the past six decades.

Young people will carry the country's national flag and emblem to lead the civilian parade.

In the waiting formations are the country's advanced tanks, armored vehicles and missiles. On Tian'anmen Square, a 1,300-member military band will play music as the parade proceeds.

(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2009)