A drum and bulge troupe consisting of 1,600 red-scarfed Young Pioneers, the Chinese version of scouts, passed Tian'anmen Rostrum in central Beijing Thursday, followed by2,000 Young Pioneer paraders in new uniforms, in celebration of the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The country's youth organization for children -- the Young Pioneers of China -- was created on Oct. 13, 1949.

Performers in the troupe were students from primary and high schools in Beijing. The troupe was the last of six shows running through the mass pageant, which also included waist drums, group dancing and folk dances.

About 4,000 children paraders along with a ship-shaped float had passed before the troupe, with "Steering China" echoing a passionate melody, a newly-composed song especially for the National Day celebration.

The ongoing final part of the mass pageant, themed "Bright Future", was entirely made up of children paraders, in the hope of conveying the message to the world that children are the future of the country and will be successors to the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The slogan presented by the background on Tian'anmen Square changed from "Prosperity, Democracy, Civilization, Harmony" to "Be Always Ready".

(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2009)