
BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The military parade for the upcoming National Day celebrations, which will take place in Beijing on Oct. 1, will involve around 15,000 military personnel, according to a group interview held by the office of the leading group for the military parade in Beijing Tuesday.
The scale of the parade will be the largest in recent years, said Cai Zhijun, deputy head of the office, during the group interview.
A total of 59 formations and a military band, including more than 160 aircraft and 580 pieces of equipment, will be featured in the parade, Cai said.
The parade will consist of two parts. First, the troops will be reviewed along Chang'an Avenue; then, airborne flag-guarding echelons, foot formations, armament formations and air echelons will pass through or fly across Tian'anmen Square. The parade will last for about 80 minutes, Cai said.
Foot formations are comprised of 15 formations of guards of honor, servicewomen, civilian personnel, reserve forces, militia, peacekeepers, among others.
A total of 32 armament formations will join the parade, including those of land combat operation, maritime combat operation and air defense and missile defense.
Bombers, naval aircraft, fighters and other weaponry will fly in 12 air echelons, according to Cai.
The personnel in the foot formations were selected according to certain requirements. Male personnel have a height between 1.75 and 1.85 meters and female personnel have a height between 1.63 and 1.75 meters, said Tan Min, executive deputy director of the office of the joint command for the military parade.
The age range for joining the parade is broad, Tan said, noting that the parade will see young soldiers in their 20s as well as senior commanders who are over 60 years old.
It is a vivid demonstration of the fine traditions of the people's troops to see that several generations of soldiers and officers are reviewed at the same time, Tan said.
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses