The 35th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China () was marked on 1 October 1984 with a military parade followed by a mass civilian parade in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, and with celebrations across the country. It was the first National Day military parade in 25 years and the first at which China displayed domestically built weapons, including its intercontinental ballistic missiles. China's paramount leader Deng Xiaoping reviewed the troops along Chang'an Avenue and gave a holiday address that called for peaceful reunification with Taiwan.
Parade In mid-November 1983, the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party decided to hold a military parade for the following year's National Day; the parade leadership group and headquarters were established that December, and Yang Dezhi, the PLA Chief of the General Staff, headed the working group. It was the first National Day military parade in 25 years, since the 10th anniversary of the People's Republic of China in 1959; a parade planned for the 30th anniversary in 1979 had been scrapped after the Cultural Revolution and the death of Mao Zedong. The celebration was the first live Chinese television broadcast carried in the United States, through a joint venture between China Central Television and PBS. The parade was commanded by General Qin Jiwei in his position as Commander of the Beijing Military Region. It marked the first time that someone other than the Minister of National Defense had inspected a National Day parade and the only time that a paramount leader who wasn't in a state or party position had inspected the parade. During the inspection, set to the march The People's Navy Marches Forward, the traditional greeting Long live the Chinese Communist Party and the response Long live the People's Republic of China were replaced with Comrades, you have worked hard! and the reply Serve the people!, to distinguish the event from Maoist-era parades.
It also marked the debut appearance of the regular honor guard companies and the color guard of the Beijing Garrison Honor Guard Battalion, which are the first to be inspected and march past dignitaries. Some 10,370 officers and soldiers took part, organised into 42 ground divisions and four airborne echelons. A group of Peking University students raised a banner made from bedsheets reading "Hello Xiaoping" (; Xiǎopíng nín hǎo), to which Deng responded with a smile and a wave. In an interview with the People's Daily two days later, Defence Minister Zhang Aiping was quoted as saying "The people of the whole country and all the men and officers of the Army saw with their own eyes that the troop were much better equipped", referring to the military technology and armaments that were showcased. as it was the first to showcase Chinese made equipment. Leaders in attendance Hu Yaobang (General Secretary of the CCP) Deng Xiaoping (CMC chairman and Advisory chairman) Zhao Ziyang (Premier, official master of ceremonies) Li Xiannian (President of China) Chen Yun, First Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Other CCP Politburo members Deng Yingchao (widow of Zhou Enlai) Li Ximing (Party Committee Secretary of Beijing) Peng Zhen, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Deng Yingchao, Chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Ulanhu, Vice President Xu Xiangqian, the 4th Minister of National Defense Nie Rongzhen, the first and only Commander-in-Chief of the PLA Prince Norodom Sihanouk Son Sann, 22nd Prime Minister of Cambodia Khieu Samphan, Chairman of the State Presidium of Democratic Kampuchea Hoàng Văn Hoan, former Vietnamese Ambassador
Order of march The military parade began at 10:29 a.m. Participating units In order of appearance (A bolded unit indicates that this is its first appearance) Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army () PLA Ground Force Academy Cadet Officers Square Formation () PLA Navy Academy Cadet Officers Square Formation () PLA Air Force Academy Cadet Officers Square Formation () PLA Artillery Academy Cadet Officers Square Formation () PLA Ground Force Army School Square Formation () PLA Navy Seamen Square Formation () PLA Air Force Paratroopers Square Formation () PLA Female Military Nurses Square Formation () PAP Armed Police Force Square Formation () Male Militia Square Formation () Female Militia Square Formation () Military vehicles HJ-8 anti-tank missile system Type 82 self-propelled 130mm multiple rocket launcher PHL-81 self-propelled 122mm multiple rocket launcher Type 84 mine-laying rocket system Type 83 122mm mortar-howitzer Type 59-1 130mm mortar-howitzer ZSL-93 infantry fighting vehicle Type 63 armoured personnel carrier Type 79 main battle tank Type 70-2 122mm self-propelled howitzer Type 70 130mm self-propelled rocket launcher Type 83 152mm self-propelled howitzer YJ-8 anti-ship missile HQ-2A medium and short-range anti-aircraft missile DF-3 medium-range ballistic missile DF-4 intercontinental ballistic missile DF-5 intercontinental ballistic missile Aircraft Xian H-6 bomber and tanker along with Shenyang JJ-5 fighter Xian H-6 bomber and tanker Nanchang Q-5 ground-attack aircraft Chengdu J-7 fighter
Music A 1,200-piece band accompanied the parade. Welcome leaders Ode to the Motherland () March of the Volunteers (National Anthem of the People's Republic of China) () Troops review Troops Review March of the PLA (Inspection March of the PLA) () Three Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention () People's Navy, Marches Forward () Ready to Fly to the Battlefield () March of the Artillery Force () March of the Motorized Troops () March of the Armored Vehicles () March of the Rocket Forces () Military Parade, drive-by, and flyby Parade March of the People's Liberation Army () March of the Artillery Force () March of the Motorized Troops () March of the Armored Vehicles () March of the Rocket Forces () Ready to Fly to the Battlefield () Civilian parade Ode to the Motherland () On the Field of Hope (); audio We Workers Have Strength (); audio China, China, the Bright Red Sun Never Sets (); audio March of the Athletes () Toast Song (); audio Anthem of the Young Pioneers of China (); audio
Card displays During the civilian parade, participants holding coloured cards and flowers formed five large patterns in turn: the national emblem with the years 1949 and 1984; (Zǔguó wànsuì; "Long live the motherland"); (Zhènxīng Zhōnghuá; "Revitalize China"); (Bǎowèi hépíng; "Defend peace"); and (Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng wànsuì; "Long live the Chinese Communist Party").
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External links 1984 China Military Parade Full Version | 1984年中国人民解放军大阅兵 1984 北京35週年國慶閱兵、羣衆遊行 （粵語旁述完整版