China's National Day evening gala begins

BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- About 60,000 people took part in a grand gala on Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing Thursday evening to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

About 60,000 people took part in a grand gala on Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing Thursday evening to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.(CCTV.com)

President Hu Jintao, former President Jiang Zemin and other leaders attended the gala that began at 8 p.m. and was scheduled to last about an hour and 40 minutes.

The gala featured songs, dances and fireworks showing Chinese people's love for the nation and eulogizing the great unity of all ethnic groups.

Local residents, public servants, company workers, university students and servicemen performed in the festivities.