Helicopters and fighter jets formed the numerals "100" and "71" as they flew over the skies of Tiananmen Square in an aerial performance marking the Chinese Communist Party's centennial.
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Aircraft also carried the party flag and other banners with slogans like "Long Live the Great Chinese Communist Party!" A 100-gun salute followed.
Twenty-nine Z-10 and Z-19 attack helicopters formed the "100" while 10 J-10 fighter jets formed "71" - for July 1 in 1921 when the party was founded.
Fifteen J-20 stealth fighters also colored the skies in the largest display of the fifth-generation aircraft.
The J-20 is one of the world's most powerful fighter jets, state media said. It is the third stealth fighter in the world to enter service following the United States' F-22 and F-35 jets.
Military aviation expert Fu Qianshao said the large display showed the mass production of the aircraft has already begun.
Fu said the J-20 will be the main aircraft deployed by the People's Liberation Army in the future.
All aircraft in the performance were domestically developed and manufactured, which shows the rapid development of China's aviation industry, he added.
Five Z-8L helicopters also made their first appearance as they carried the party flag and slogans.
The new helicopter, based on the original Z-8, has a wider body to carry military vehicles within its cabin, military expert Song Zhongping told state media.
Song said domestically produced helicopters could only carry soldiers but not vehicles or military equipment in the past, seriously limiting the air force's support and combat capability on the battlefield.
"The Z-8L helicopters have given 'wings' to the military vehicles, artillery and other equipment of the aviation forces," Song said.
Former leaders, including Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao, joined the celebrations, but former president Jiang Zemin was not present. Hu, 78, stood on the left of President Xi Jinping as they sang the party's anthem The Internationale.
