The square was festooned with red lanterns, while two giant ribbon-like sculptures in the centre were illuminated, along with its buildings including the Great Hall of the People.

Performers took over the tightly guarded square and Changan Avenue in the heart of the capital, putting on a spectacular show that included patriotic songs and dancing. They held LED screens in sync to create colourful images, including scenery from around China.

President Xi Jinping and other prominent politicians were among those watching the show, and the Chinese leader waved to the crowd as the audience joined in to sing My Motherland and I.

Workers, farmers, couriers, teachers, students and local residents – some of them part of the army of volunteers involved in neighbourhood watch duties – were chosen to take part in the gala across 10 stages set up along Changan Avenue.

Further south on vast Tiananmen Square, a huge symphony orchestra of more than 1,000 musicians performed with a choir made up of 1,400 students ranging from primary school to university age. They were joined by more Beijing residents and martial arts students, who sang and danced.

The show ended with the group singing another patriotic song, Ode to the Motherland, as fireworks over the square spelled out “Long live the people”.

For Beijing residents, it has been a long build-up to the all-important anniversary celebrations, with many roads, subway stations and shops closed in the area over the past few weekends while rehearsals for the military parade and gala took place.

Some saw it as a necessary sacrifice. One woman in her 70s, who watched the show on television, said she found it very moving. “I know all these old songs. I dedicated my youth to building this country and sang and danced to these songs,” the woman said.

Another Beijinger, in his 40s, said he was impressed by how happy the performers appeared, saying he thought they looked proud about the progress China had made.

Additional reporting by Wendy Wu