About 60,000 people took part in a grand gala on Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing Thursday evening to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

President Hu Jintao, former President Jiang Zemin and other leaders, including top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao, attended the gala that began at 8 p.m. and was scheduled to last about an hour and 40 minutes.

The gala featured songs, dances and fireworks showing Chinese people's love for the nation and eulogizing the great unity of all ethnic groups.

Local residents, public servants, company workers, university students and servicemen performed in the festivities.

Among the performers were more than 5,000 migrant workers from the fields of manufacturing, construction and light industries. "Today is the happiest moment in my life," said construction worker Li Zongmin. "I might not be the best dancer, but I will dance most seriously."

Ma Qianming, a fruit farmer from northwest China's Shaanxi Province, had been expecting to enjoy the evening gala near the Tian'anmen Square.

"The military and civilian parades displayed the national strength, while the gala will create joy and express our wish for unity between people of different ethnic groups," he said.