The Chinese capital today turned into a garrison city as thousands of soldiers from China, Russia, Pakistan and other countries with fighter jets, missiles and tanks rehearsed for a huge military parade next month commemorating 70th anniversary of victory over Japan in World War II.
More than 10,000 Chinese military personnel with over 500 vehicles and some 200 aircraft took part in the dress rehearsal to test their nearly year-long training to stage an immaculate parade, the first such one being held by China to celebrate its victory against Japan in WWII.
Troops carrying the flags of Cuba, Fiji, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Pakistan participated in the parade as Chinese missile carriers rolled through the iconic Tiananmen Square and fighter jets filled the sky.
The September 3 parade will showcase the 2.3 million-strong People's Liberation Army's (PLA) rapidly growing capabilities at a time when Beijing is asserting territorial claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea.
The parade is part of a series of high-level events organised to mark Japan's defeat 70 years ago.
The Chinese military plans to show seven types of long, intermediate and short-range missiles at the parade, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
According to Chinese military officials, 84 per cent of armaments including missiles to be displayed will be new and have not been shown in public previously.
"The scale and number of the missiles will surpass any previous outing," a military official said.
China said that several world leaders and over 10 foreign military forces will participate in its WWII memorial parade.
Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj of Mongolia, Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt and Milos Zeman of the Czech Republic have accepted invitations to attend.
Belarus, Kazakhstan and Mexico are also likely to participate in the parade, according to state media.
China has not provided a full list of the countries and only said that "countries that will send formations and representative teams to the parade are from all the continents of Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania and America".
India, however, will have a low-key participation in the event.
Indian officials said that while Indian troops will not take part in the parade, an Indian delegation headed by Minister of State for External Affairs, Gen (Retd) V K Singh is expected to attend the parade and the reception to be held on the occasion.
Beijing has mobilised 850,000 residents to patrol the city to ensure security ahead of the military parade.
Today's rehearsal was held on the weekend to minimise inconvenience caused by traffic control in various parts of Beijing, officials said.
Roads surrounding Tiananmen Square, from where the leaders would watch the parade has been turned into a fortress. Vehicles have been banned from parking in the area or near to it.
China's last such military parade was in 2009 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic.
