Military band performance, gun salute and flag raising

Soldiers and a salute of guns are ready for the coming military parade on the Tian'anmen square on the Sept 3, 2015.[Photo/www.news.cn]

Facts you need to know

Some 1,200 male members of the Chorus of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) performed alongside the Military Band for the first time. Around 100 female performers joined the Military Band of the PLA for the first time.

A 70-gun salute was fired alternately to mark the 70th anniversary of victory and marked the largest number of gun salutes of any previous celebrations and ceremonies.

National flag guards walked a total of 121 steps, symbolizing 121 years of the Chinese people's fight against aggression since 1894, when the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 began.