• World

See China’s Epic Parade Commemorating the End of World War II

03 Sep 2015, Beijing, China --- (150903) -- BEIJING, Sept. 3, 2015 (Xinhua) -- A phalanx honoring heroes of the "Pingxingguan Pass Battle" attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2015. The Pingxingguan Pass Battle was the first victory achieved by Chinese people since the start of the anti-Japanese war, which greatly boosted morale nationwide in the following war of resistance. China on Thursday held commemoration activities, including a grand military parade, to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the --- Image by © Fei Maohua/Xinhua Press/Corbis
A phalanx honoring heroes of the "Pingxingguan Pass Battle" during a grand military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015. Fei Maohua—Xinhua Press/Corbis
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 03: (CHINA OUT) Guards of honor walk past Tiananmen Gate during the 9.3 military parade on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China. China is marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and its role in defeating Japan with a new national holiday and a military parade in Beijing. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)
Guards of honor walk past Tiananmen Gate during the military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015.ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 03: (L-R) South Korean President Park Geun Hye, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, former Chinese President Jian Zemin, former Chinese President Hu Jintao, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrive on top of Tiananmen Gate to watch a military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China. China is marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and its role in defeating Japan with a new national holiday and a military parade in Beijing. (Photo by Andy Wong - Pool/Getty Images)
South Korean President Park Geun Hye, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, former Chinese President Jian Zemin, former Chinese President Hu Jintao, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stand on top of Tiananmen Gate to watch a military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015Andy Wong—Getty Images
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 03: Chinese president and leader of the Communist Party Xi Jinping rides in an open top car in front of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City during a military parade on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China. China is marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and its role in defeating Japan with a new national holiday and a military parade in Beijing. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
Chinese president and leader of the Communist Party Xi Jinping rides in an open top car in front of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City during a military parade in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015. Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 03: Members of a Chinese military choir sing near Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City during a military parade on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China. China is marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and its role in defeating Japan with a new national holiday and a military parade in Beijing. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
Members of a Chinese military choir sing near Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City during a military parade in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Chinese President Xi Jinping offers a toast after delivering a speech during a reception to mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II in Beijing, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. (Lintao Zhang/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping offers a toast after delivering a speech during a reception to mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015.Lintao Zhang—AP
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 03: Military vehicles carrying shore-to-ship missiles drive past the Tiananmen Gate during a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China. China is marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and its role in defeating Japan with a new national holiday and a military parade in Beijing. (Photo by Jason Lee - Pool/Getty Images)
Military vehicles carrying shore-to-ship missiles drive past the Tiananmen Gate during a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015.Getty Images
epa04910640 Entertainers perform during the gala marking the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 03 September 2015. China is set to hold a military parade on 03 September, as one of the events taking place around the World marking the 70th Anniversary of the WWII Victory over Japan Day which marks the day Japan officially accepted the terms of surrender imposed by the by Allied Forces in the Pacific conflict. EPA/WU HONG
Entertainers perform during the gala marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015. Wu Hong—EPA
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 03: (CHINA OUT) Military vehicles drive past Tiananmen Gate during the 9.3 military parade on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China. China is marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and its role in defeating Japan with a new national holiday and a military parade in Beijing. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)
Military vehicles drive past Tiananmen Gate during the military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015.ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images
Chinese army personnel stand during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. The spectacle involved more than 12,000 troops, 500 pieces of military hardware and 200 aircraft of various types, representing what military officials say is the Chinese military's most cutting-edge technology. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Chinese army personnel stand during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015. Ng Han Guan—AP
03 Sep 2015, Beijing, China --- (150903) -- BEIJING, Sept. 3, 2015 (Xinhua) -- Colorful balloons are released during the commemoration activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2015. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)(mcg) --- Image by © Meng Yongmin/Xinhua Press/Corbis
Balloons are released during the commemoration activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015.Meng Yongmin—Xinhua Press/Corbis
People record trainer jets flying over Tiananmen Square during a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2015. REUTERS/China Daily CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
People record trainer jets flying over Tiananmen Square during a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2015.China Daily—Reuters

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com