Grand show! China celebrates 70th anniversary with massive military parade; see spectacular images

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China celebrated its 70th anniversary of the Communist rule on October 1, with a massive military parade, showcasing its most advanced weapons, including nuclear and hypersonic missiles, amid mounting political and economic challenges. The official ceremonies began on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping paying his respects to the founder of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) Mao Zedong's embalmed body in Beijing. (AP Photo)

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Military vehicles roll down as members of a Chinese military honor guard march during the parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of Communist China in Beijing. (AP Photo)

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Chinese leader Xi Jinping rides an open-top limousine during a parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of Communist China, in Beijing. (AP Photo)

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Military aircraft fly in formation over Tiananmen Square during the military parade marking the 70th founding anniversary of People's Republic of China, on its National Day in Beijing. (Reuters Photo)

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Soldiers of People's Liberation Army (PLA) march in formation during the military parade marking the 70th founding anniversary of People's Republic of China, on its National Day in Beijing. (Reuters Photo)

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A military vehicle carrying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) travels past Tiananmen Square during the military parade marking the 70th founding anniversary of People's Republic of China, on its National Day in Beijing. (Reuters Photo)

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The main event of the celebrations of the day was the largest parade held by the Chinese military. (Reuters Photo)

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Hailing the remarkable achievements made by the Chinese people in the past 70 years, Xi said absolute poverty, a problem that has plagued the Chinese nation for thousands of years, was coming to an end. (Reuters Photo)

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Military planners in Washington and elsewhere will be taking note of new missile technology displayed by China, particularly a hypersonic ballistic nuclear missile believed capable of breaching all existing anti-missile shields deployed by the US and its allies. (AP Photo)

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China showcased biggest parade till date in which the military displayed about 300 new weapons. (Reuters Photo)

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China says the parade, the country's most important political event of the year, which featured more than 15,000 troops marching through part of Tiananmen Square as jet fighters trailing coloured smoke soared overhead, is not meant to intimidate any specific country. (Reuters Photo)

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China, which keeps its top weapons under the blanket of secrecy, has paraded its latest nuclear and hypersonic missiles, besides stealth aircraft and a host of other weaponry. It is being seen as a muscle-flexing exercise by Beijing. (Reuters Photo)

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China unveiled new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and showcased its advancing intercontinental and hypersonic missiles, designed to attack the aircraft carriers and bases that undergird US military strength in Asia.(AP Photo)

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Many said the show of force was a reminder to the United States and its allies at how far the PLA has come. (AP Photo)