How many military parades have been held in Tiananmen Square?

Published : 02/09/2025

Xiyuan Airport was once considered for the founding ceremony

Let's first discuss the choice of venue for the parade. Today, when one speaks of a military parade, Tiananmen Square in Beijing naturally comes to mind. However, before 1949, it was by no means the foregone conclusion for such an event.

Not looking too far back, the location for military parades during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD) was Nanyuan (南苑), an area that is now part of Beijing's Daxing District and Fengtai District.

During the era of Republican of China (1912-1949 AD), military parades also took place in Beiping (now Beijing) not only at Nanyuan but also in the open space in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿) in the Forbidden City, a fact that might surprise many.

The first military parade of the PRC took place on the October 1, 1949, during the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China.

Because the ceremony included a military parade, the requirements for the location were particularly high. The preparatory committee proposed two locations: Xiyuan Airport (西苑機場) and Tiananmen Square.

Xiyuan Airport, situated in Beijing's Haidian District, was constructed in 1938 by the occupying Japanese forces and is now a dedicated airfield for the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

It was considered an option because of its vast open space and because a military review had already been held there in March of the same year when the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) entered Beiping.

However, its main drawbacks were its distance from the city centre and the significant cost required to build a new reviewing stand.

"If there aren't enough planes, fly twice"

The advantage of Tiananmen Square was, of course, its central location in the city, with the Gate of Heavenly Peace already serving as a ready-made review platform. However, at the time, Tiananmen Square was overgrown with weeds, and the gate was in a state of disrepair, requiring cleaning and renovation.

How should the location be chosen? The relevant departments submitted two options to the central government.

After careful consideration, Zhou Enlai, who later became the Premier after the founding of the PRC, ultimately decided that the founding ceremony, including the parade, would take place at Tiananmen Square.

Some classic moments from the founding ceremony's military parade are still often mentioned today.

One such moment was when only 17 aircraft were available for the aerial display. Their flight over Tiananmen Square was too brief and appeared sparse. Zhou Enlai then proposed the idea of "if there aren't enough planes, fly twice."

Nine of the faster aircraft, after flying over the square, quickly turned around and re-joined the formation, creating the impression of 26 planes participating in the parade.

The iconic "gun-swing" move of 1984

After the founding ceremony, Tiananmen became a symbol of the PRC, and Tiananmen Square became the unrivalled choice for military parades in Beijing.

From 1950 to 1959, National Day celebrations at Tiananmen Square included grand military parades. In 1950, the number of participating troops reached a record-breaking 24,000, a figure that remains unbeaten to this day.

However, due to a national emphasis on austerity and the impact of the Cultural Revolution, National Day military parades were suspended for 24 years, only resuming in 1984 after the Reform and Opening-up began.

The 35th National Day parade in 1984 marked the debut of the Second Artillery Corps' (now known as the Rocket Force) strategic missile unit, as well as the first appearance of a female soldier formation.

What military enthusiasts remember most, however, is the three-step "gun-swing" move performed by the foot formations, widely regarded as the most imposing and unmatched to date.

The first V-Day Parade held in 2015

Subsequent grand military parades were held at Tiananmen Square in 1999, 2009, and 2019 to commemorate the 50th, 60th, and 70th anniversaries of National Day, respectively.

These "once-in-a-decade" parades have become a tradition. Unless unforeseen circumstances arise, the next National Day grand parade will likely take place in 2029 for the 80th anniversary.

In addition to National Day parades, Tiananmen Square hosted the first V-Day Parade in 2015 to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War. Several foreign leaders attended, and foreign military forces were invited to participate for the first time.

Now in 2025, the 80th anniversary of the victory is commemorated with another V-Day Parade, which is unprecedented in scale. The active-duty weapons on display has far exceeded expectations in terms of "futuristic" design.

This marks the 17th grand military parade held at Tiananmen Square since the founding of the PRC.

Has the PRC ever held military parades outside Beijing? Of course.

Military parade in Hong Kong? A 3,000-strong spectacle!

After the large-scale military exercise in 1981, a grand parade was held in North China at Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province. The parade commemorating the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was conducted at the Zhurihe Training Base in Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, where military enthusiasts surely remember the awe-inspiring scene of 10,000 troops assembling at a run.

Additionally, Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, hosted a parade in 1981, featuring 9,000 troops and formations of tanks and anti-aircraft missiles.

Do you recall that military parades have also been held in Hong Kong and Macao?

Hong Kong has hosted several parades, such as those marking the 1st, 10th, 15th, and 20th anniversaries of its return to China. National leaders Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping inspected the Hong Kong garrison at Stonecutters Island or Shek Kong Barracks during these occasions.

Among them, the 2017 parade inspected by Xi Jinping featured 20 formations and more than 3,000 troops, making it a significant event.

Finally, military parades are not confined to land; they have also been held at sea. Notable locations include Fushan Bay (浮山灣) off Qingdao, Shandong Province, and the South China Sea. The 2018 South China Sea parade was particularly remarkable, as it featured an aircraft carrier formation for the first time.