Military fans in China and around the world should set their alarm clocks to ring before 10 am on Thursday Beijing time as they will be presented with a rare display of the People's Liberation Army's top weapons, observers suggested.

China will stage a grand parade on Thursday in Tian'anmen Square to mark the 70th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) and the end of World War II.

More than 12,000 military personnel as well as veterans and their descendants will participate in the event. Seventeen foreign military teams will also take part.