The Parade of Asian Civilizations, which showcases Asia's diverse and rich cultures, kicked off in Beijing on Thursday. /VCG Photo

As one of the major sideline events of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC), the parade presented costumed performers from 16 countries and 10 Chinese performance teams, Xinhua reported. /VCG Photo

The parade runs twice a day – at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day from Thursday to May 22 in Beijing's Olympic Park. /VCG Photo

A spectator said, "I think it is exciting to see this kind of performance, it shows the distinct characteristics of Asia, and even China." /VCG Photo