In pictures: China celebrates Olympics

China has staged lavish celebrations to mark the one-year countdown to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Elaborate events brought thousands of people together, including here at the capital city's Millennium Monument.

At the Great Wall of China, 999 costumed students from across the country gathered to play Chinese traditional musical instruments.

In Beijing, Chinese lion and dragon dancers performed under a banner reading: "Welcome Olympics, Be Civilized, Set Good Example".

The date of the Games - 8 August 2008 - is significant in China, where eight is regarded as a lucky number.

The eagerly-anticipated Games will be the most expensive in history and the first to be hosted by China.

But the choice of China has drawn angry protests from human rights campaigners, who say Beijing has used the event to further suppress dissent.