China prepares for its 60th anniversary

Chinese citizens and government workers have been preparing for months for their upcoming celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st. Parts of Beijing have been shut down several times, allowing for rehearsals of a once-in-a-decade military parade, multiple artistic performances and shows, fireworks and more. Security concerns are high as well, bringing out large details of security personnel and equipment. Collected here are images from the past several weeks of people around China preparing to celebrate their National Day. (37 photos total)

Workers renovate a statue of China's late chairman Mao Zedong at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei province, September 16, 2009. Statues and monuments around the country are being renovated and updated in preparation for the upcoming 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1. (REUTERS/China Daily)

Chinese government workers dressed in traditional costumes take part in a competition of singing patriotic songs in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan province, Thursday Sept. 17, 2009. (AP Photo) #

A chef makes a cake in the shape of Beijing's Tiananmen Gate in Suining, Sichuan province September 18, 2009, to celebrate China's upcoming 60th anniversary. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

The National Grand Theatre stands surrounded by water in central Beijing September 17, 2009. The theatre is lit by coloured lights in preparation to celebrate China's National Day in October. (REUTERS/Jason Lee) #

Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) heavy tanks prepare to make their way on to the main east-west thoroughfare, the Avenue of Heavenly Peace, in Beijing on September 18, 2009, as the government rehearsed for a huge October 1st parade that will mark 60 years since the founding of Communist China. Security swarmed the Avenue of Heavenly Peace, shooing citizens away from what will be the parade's route through the heart of the city and past Tiananmen Square. (GOH CHAI HIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

A man rides a bicycle past the National Unity Poles, which have been named and decorated for October's 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square September 17, 2009. (REUTERS/Jason Lee) #

Performers practice for Beijing's 60th Anniversary celebrations at a training camp on the outskirts of Beijing, China on Sept. 16, 2009. Official celebrations will be held in China on Oct. 1 to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. (AP Photo) ** ** #

A Chinese military tank heads towards Tiananmen Square where a rehearsal for China's 60th anniversary will be held in Beijing, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. Authorities shut down a major part of central Beijing to conduct the rehearsal for the parade. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel) #

Chinese military vehicles are parked on Changan Ave. near Tiananmen Square during a rehearsal for a ceremony marking China's 60th anniversary in Beijing, China, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. (Nelson Ching/Bloomberg) #

People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers perform during a rehearsal of a musical drama at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing September 17, 2009. The musical drama is part of celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of Communist China in October. (REUTERS/China Daily) #

Participants rehearse on one of the National Day floats in Beijing on September 16, 2009. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) #

A police anti-explosive container is placed on the platform at a metro station in Beijing on August 19, 2009. Beijing police will step up their anti-terror efforts ahead of the 60th anniversary on October 1 of the founding of communist China, with more street patrols and checkpoints, state media said. (LIU JIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

Workers assemble decorative floats for China's National Day parade at an open area near a sports centre in Beijing on August 27, 2009. China has begun a security clampdown to prevent any disturbances to what it intends to be a glorious celebration of the day 60 years ago when Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People's Republic of China. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images) #

A worker rests on a chair before the rehearsal of a cantata at the Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai September 16, 2009. (REUTERS/Aly Song) #

Paramilitary policemen take part in an oath-taking rally to ensure the safety of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing September 1, 2009. (REUTERS/Joe Chan) #

Workers sew Chinese national flags at a factory on the outskirts of Beijing, September 4, 2009. Demand for the flags is increasing as people prepare for the 60th anniversary celebration. (REUTERS/China Daily) #

Performers take part in a chorus performance of patriotic songs involving 10,000 participants held at a gym in Beijing, China, Wednesday Aug. 26, 2009. (AP Photo) #

Participants stand in form in a boulevard leading to Tiananmen Square in Beijing during a rehearsal for the 60th anniversary parade August 29, 2009. (REUTERS/Nir Elias) #

A woman makes a frame for a traditional-style lantern at a workshop in Hongmiao village on the outskirts of Beijing, September 1,2009. The villagers are producing tens of thousands lanterns, which will be used to celebrate China's 60th anniversary. (REUTERS/Jason Lee) #

A couple take wedding pictures in front of the Tiananmen Gate on September 8, 2009 in Beijing, China. Many people are expected to hold their wedding on National Day. (Feng Li/Getty Images) #

Members of China's Air Force battalion march as they rehearse for the National Day parade in Beijing on September 10, 2009. (LIU JIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

Chinese soldiers practice marching at a camp in Beijing, China, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) #

A member of China's first class of women fighter pilots prepares to board her aircraft during a ceremony with new flight gear designed for women, at a People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force base in Beijing on August 30, 2009. The pilots will make their debut during the upcoming National Day Parade. China could launch its first woman into space as early as 2012, the candidate being chosen from this group. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images) #

Chinese hairdresser Huang Xin works on his latest art piece, a replica of The National museum of China, made from human hair, at his barbershop in Beijing September 9, 2009. Huang uses human hair to make replicas of iconic Chinese buildings and items, such as the Tiananmen gate and The Great Hall of The People, since early 2008. (REUTERS/Nir Elias) #

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, soldiers take part in an exercise for the military parade at an airport of People's Liberation Army in Beijing Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Li Gang) #

A group of women from a Chinese militia batalion prepare for a marching drill as they rehease for the National Day parade, in Beijing on September 7, 2009. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) #

Pupils create the national flag on a canvas by using their hands dipped in red paint at a primary school in Jinan, Shandong province September 14, 2009. (REUTERS/Stringer). #

An officer sticks a needle in the collar of a paramilitary policeman to correct his posture during a training session in Hefei, Anhui province September 13, 2009. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

Policewomen on horseback stand guard in a line outside the World Expo Center, in China's port city Dalian September 11, 2009. (REUTERS/Jason Lee) #

A giant float highlighting China's space program moving towards Tiananmen Square for a major rehearsal ahead of the 60th National Day celebrations in Beijing, China, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) #

Thousands of participants rehearse a formation on Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 12, 2009 for the National Day pageant. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) #

Students from a martial arts school jump with spring-loaded stilts over a giant national flag during a rehearsal of celebrations to commemorate China's National Day, at the school in Dengfeng, Henan province September 16, 2009. (REUTERS/Donald Chan) #

People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers perform a dance featuring Long March during a rehearsal of a musical drama entitled "The Road of Revival" at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing September 14, 2009. (REUTERS/China Daily) #

Thousands of participants rehearse a formation on Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 12, 2009 for the National Day pageant. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) #

Chinese military singers take part in a chorus performance of patriotic songs involving 10,000 participants held at a gym in Beijing, China, Wednesday Aug. 26, 2009. (AP Photo) #

A couple kiss as workers test the lights at the Great Hall of the People at the Tiananmen Square on September 8, 2009 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images) #

A man gets a haircut featuring Tiananmen Gate at a barbershop, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Zhengzhou, Henan province September 15, 2009. (REUTERS/Donald Chan) #