With 60,000 peaceful doves and numerous colored balloons released into sky, 5,000 children paraders surged Thursday onto the Golden Water Bridge in front of Tian'anmen Square, bringing the National Day celebration to a climax in central Beijing.

The vast square was a sea of color and joy and the song of "Ode to the Motherland" echoing a patriotic melody.

Top leaders including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao stood on Tian'anmen Rostrum and waved greetings to the cheering audience and performers on the square.

The background in Tian'anmen Square presented the slogan of "Long live the People's Republic of China", formed by 80,000 primary and middle school students.

The final part of the mass pageant was themed "Bright Future" and entirely made up of children paraders, to convey the message to the world that children are the country's future and will be successors to the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

In the part, a parade of 4,000 children along with a ship-shaped float, a drum and bulge troupe consisting of 1,600 Young Pioneers and a parade of 2,000 Young Pioneers passed the Tian'anmen Rostrum.

"Steering China", a newly-composed song especially for the Oct. 1 celebration, had been played on during the final part portraying hopes for the country's bright future.

The background on the square had presented several slogans including "Prosperity, Democracy, Civilization, Harmony", "Be Always Ready" and "Tomorrow will be better" for the final part.

Lan Lin, a 13-year-old background performer in the square, said she could not see clearly those paraders or floats as she was hidden from view by other performers and their props.

But she and other teenage background performers had been looking up at doves and balloons in the air after finishing performances all through the two-hour celebration.

"I have never seen so many doves or balloons. They are decorating the sky in a marvelous way," Lan said.

Apart from the military parade and the mass pageant, festivities in celebration of the National Day anniversary also include a grand party with fireworks display on Tian'anmen Square Thursday night.

Live broadcast of all festivities on the National Day were available on TV and the Internet.

Starting Thursday, Chinese people would enjoy an eight-day national holiday.