Float depicting China's space achievements

China celebrated its rise to a world power over 60 years of Communist rule on October 1, 2009 staging its biggest-ever parade of military hardware with over 100,000 marching masses in a display that stirred patriotism and some unease.
During the two-hour-plus festivities, more than 100 helicopters, communication airships and Chinese-made fighter jets flew over the city in formation.
After the armaments, 60 floats celebrating last year's Beijing Olympics, China's manned space program and other symbols of progress rolled by as tens of thousands of students flipped colored cards in unison to make pictures of lucky symbols and spell out political slogans.

China showcases latest advance technologies

China's military shows off their latest advance technologies during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2009.(AFP)

Rocket launcher during National Day parade

Soldiers stand in People's Liberation Army (PLA) rocket launcher trucks they rumble past Tiananmen Square in a massive parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. (REUTERS)

Modern weapons

China's military shows off their latest advance technologies during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (AFP)

Latest missiles

China's military shows off their latest missiles during the National Day parade in Beijing. (AFP)

Mobile artillery

China's military shows off their various mobile artillery units during the National Day in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (AFP)

China's missiles

China's missiles are carried in Beijing's Tiananmen Gate during a military parade marking China's 60th anniversary in Beijing, China, Thursday Oct 1, 2009. (AP)

Nuclear-capable missiles

People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers salute in front of nuclear-capable missiles during a massive parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing. (REUTERS)

Military tanks of China

China's military tanks march past Tiananmen Square during a military parade marking China's 60th anniversary in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (AP)

China's latest missiles

China's military shows off their latest missiles during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (AFP)

Helicopters fly over Tiananmen Square

Helicopters fly over Tiananmen Square during celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in central Beijing October 1, 2009. (REUTERS)

Nuclear-capable missiles

Nuclear-capable missiles are displayed during a massive parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing. (REUTERS)

Various mobile artillery units

China's military shows off their various mobile artillery units during the National Day in Beijing. It formally kicked off mass celebrations of 60 years of communist rule with a 60-gun salute that rung out across Beijing's historic Tiananmen Square. AFP

Mobile artillery units

China's military shows off their various mobile artillery units during the National Day in Beijing on October 1, 2009. (AFP)