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CHINA CELEBRATES 60 YEARS ( 39 PHOTOS)

China formally kicked off its mass celebrations of 60 years of communist 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 parade in Beijing, and of others commemorating the anniversary elsewhere. (39 photos total)

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)

Participants take part during National Day celebrations in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #

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) #

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 People's Republic of China, in Beijing October 1, 2009. (REUTERS/David Gray) #

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

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

An instructor aligns the formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Airborne Corps during a training session at the 60th National Day Parade Village on the outskirts of Beijing, September 15, 2009. (REUTERS/Joe Chan). #

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 People's Republic of China in Beijing October 1, 2009. (REUTERS/Jason Lee) #

Chinese President Hu Jintao reviews the military personnel during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images) #

Chinese children dressed in costumes wait on Tiananmen Square for the National Day parade to start in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (GOH CHAI HIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

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 People's Republic of China October 1, 2009. (REUTERS/Joe Chan) #

Dancers take part in a parade to celebrate China's 60th anniversary on October 1, 2009 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li/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) #

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) #

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) #

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

A float with a model of Potala Palace is displayed during a parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing October 1, 2009. (REUTERS/Nir Elias) #

Women in costume perform in a parade to celebrate China's 60th anniversary on October 1, 2009 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images) #

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) #

A migrant worker adjusts the antenna to get a better reception of the live television broadcast of the parade to mark China's 60th anniversary, at their dormitory in Hefei, Anhui province October 1, 2009. (REUTERS/Jianan Yu) #

A float depicting China's space achievements participates in a parade to mark the 60th China anniversary in Beijing, China, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) #

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) #

Dancers from the National Ballet of China performs the "Red Detachment of Women" ballet at the Tanggu Great Theater, part of the celebration of China's 60th anniversary, in Tianjin, September 26, 2009. The "Red Detachment of Women" is a full-length Chinese ballet depicting a peasant woman's journey into the PLA, combining Western dance style with Chinese cultural elements. (REUTERS/Jason Lee) #

Soldiers from the PLA Airborne Corps massage their comrades during a break at a training session at the 60th National Day Parade Village in the outskirts of Beijing, September 15, 2009. (REUTERS/Joe Chan). #

PLA air force pilots salute during a training session for China's 60th anniversary military parade at a military base in Beijing, China. (AP Photo) #

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

Tattoo artist Ren Liang works on a tattoo celebrating China's 60th anniversary on customer Chen Huang's back in his shop in central Beijing September 28, 2009. The small tattoo parlour has had an influx of requests for tattoos which symbolise the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. (REUTERS/David Gray) #

A float representing modes of transport passes by Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images) #

A banquet is held marking China's 60th anniversary on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Feng Li, Pool) #

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) #

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) #

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) #

Participants prepare for an evening performance to mark China's 60th anniversary in Tiananmen Square in Beijing October 1, 2009. (REUTERS/Jason Lee) #

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) #

Fireworks explode over Tiananmen Square during an evening performance to mark China's 60th anniversary, in Beijing October 1, 2009. (REUTERS/Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) #

Fireworks light up Victoria Harbour to celebrate Chinese National Day in Hong kong on October 1, 2009. Large crowds gathered on the waterfront in Hong Kong to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. (ED Jones/AFP/Getty Images) #

The Empire State Building is lit with red and yellow lights to mark China's 60th anniversary on September 30, 2009 in New York. (STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) #

A child watches as fireworks light up Victoria Harbour to celebrate Chinese National Day in Hong kong on October 1, 2009. (ED Jones/AFP/Getty Images) #

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