Beijing lit up with pomp and pageantry on Wednesday at a massive parade showcasing China's latest military hardware, watched by world leaders including North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Members of the public gathered from the crack of dawn at the capital's Tiananmen Square, the entrance gate of the historic Forbidden City and the focus point of President Xi Jinping's show of force to the world.

Guests posed with wide smiles for photos with their parade invitations against the backdrop of Tiananmen, which was adorned with national flags of China and thousands of red and green seats set up for the occasion.

Giant, golden numerals "1945" and "2025" were erected on the square, a reminder of the 80 years that had passed since the end of World War II.

"This is the first

See Full Page