BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- China, for the first time, had a formation composed of foreigners for its National Day celebration parade since the founding of New China in 1949, a sign of its increased openness to the outside world.

Parcitipants parade in 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. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    A total of 181 foreigners from 53 countries participated in the parade. Dozens of foreigners wore Chinese-style dresses or their national costumes on the float themed "One World", and others marched in T-shirts with "I love China" on them and waving China's national flags.

    Of the 155 paraders, 97 were overseas students studying in Beijing and the remaining 58 were mainly foreign experts and representatives from foreign companies.

People take part in the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Photo Gallery>>>

    The formation aimed to tell that Chinese people were praying for world peace and development, along with people from the rest of the world, organizers said.

    Michael Crook, a British man who was born in China and runs an international school in Beijing, said in fluent Chinese, "I am excited when invited to take part in the parade for such a special day in China. I used to be an audience, but today I am part of it."

    "It is once in a life time thing," he said, adding the change about the parade demonstrated China's openness to the world.

Chinese wish for national unity, reunification in festive parade

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese people expressed their desire for national unity and reunification Thursday morning in a mass procession celebrating the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

    Following a grand military parade, the mass procession, in 35 formations with different themes, began at around 11:20 a.m. in front of the famous Tian'anmen Rostrum at the heart of Beijing. Full story

Final children parade looks into better future

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- A parade of about 5,000 children with colored balloons and wreaths in hand walked by Tian'anmen Rostrum in central Beijing Thursday, along with a float in the shape of a giant basket filled with flowers, in celebration of the60th founding anniversary of New China.

    The square formation called "Tomorrow will be better" was the largest and final one in the mass pageant. The float named "Flourishing flowers" was also the final of 60 running through the mass pageant. Full story

Dazzling Taiwan float joins "Splendid China" formation

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Applause and cheers engulfed Tian'anmen Square Thursday morning when a float featuring the scale model of Taiwan's landmark 101 Tower and colorful local fruits appeared at the celebrations of New China's 60th founding anniversary.

    The dazzling float of the "Treasure Island" was the last one of the "Splendid China" formation to pull into the square at the heart of Beijing, following 33 others representing China's 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. Full story

Overseas Chinese show love of China

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Overseas Chinese attended the parade on Thursday morning for China's 60th National Day celebration to show their attachment to the country where they were originated from.

    The formations, passing Tian'anmen Square, featured two huge red Chinese knots, decorative handicraft which began as a form of art in the Tang and Song dynasties in China. The handicraft is normally used to convey "unity" and "harmony". Full story