BEIJING: A grand ceremony is scheduled to start at 10 am Thursday in Beijing to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The celebrations will center on the Tian'anmen Square in the heart of Beijing, and Chang'an Avenue, the capital's main west-east thoroughfare, said Wang Yue, executive commander of the headquarters for civilians' parade affairs of the 60th anniversary celebration in the Chinese capital.

According to Wang, immediately following a massive military parade, there will be a civilians' parade comprising 36 formations and six performing groups involving about 100,000 citizens and 60 floats. It is complemented by 80,000 primary and middle school students in the Tian'anmen Square forming background patterns.

More than 4,000 performers, including a 2,400 strong chorus, will present a concert in the Tian'anmen Square, said Wang.

The civilians' parade begins with a formation of honor guards holding high the National Flag of the New China.

The civilians' parade will have three themes: ideology, achievements and future prospects, Wang said.

"Ideology" will be portrayed by formations holding high portraits of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, and placards featuring slogans characteristic of their thinking.

Nineteen floats will display China's achievements in different sectors, while another 34 will represent China's 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Three formations of teenagers will express the concept of wishing China a beautiful future. More than 5,000 children have been organized to fly and release colorful balloons and several tens of thousands of doves will also be released in the Tian'anmen Square Area, Wang said.