More than 650 sets of twins, triplets and multiple births from around the world gathered at a Beijing park on Tuesday for the Fourth Beijing Twins Culture Festival, a highlight of the city's National Day celebrations.

When those look-alikes walked on the red carpet prepared by the event sponsor, the Honglingjin Park in eastern Beijing, scores of spectators snapped photos accompanied by acclamations.

Twins pose at the Fourth Beijing Twins Cultural Festival, at the city's Honglingjin Park, on Tuesday, October 2, 2007.

Twins walk the red carpet at the Fourth Beijing Twins Cultural Festival, at the city's Honglingjin Park, on Tuesday, October 2, 2007.

"I feel just like a star," said 5-year-old girl Wang Yufei, who came to Beijing with sister Wang Yutong.

Ten pairs of twins were picked among them to attend a simulated torch relay, which was ended with the chanting of slogans of next year's Olympics by all twins.

Other activities included performances of singing, dancing, cross talk and martial arts.

"Someone may be scouting for talented people just like us, and we hope we can arouse their attention through our performance on the stage," said Li Xin, a secondary school student, who came to Beijing with sisters Li Jing and Li Miao. They had attended the past three festivals.

The First Beijing Twins Culture Festival was held on October 2, 2004, which attracted more than 500 pairs of twins, and the event has become an annual event, according to the organizers.

Chinese, who by tradition prefer "double" to "single" and always wish newlyweds "double happiness," look on twins and multiple births as signs of good luck. A boy-and-girl pair is called a "dragon and phoenix" pair -- a reference to two traditional symbols of prosperity.

Twin sisters Ma Xing (front) and Ma Li perform at the Fourth Beijing Twins Cultural Festival, at the city's Honglingjin Park, on Tuesday, October 2, 2007.

Five-year-old twins, Wang Yufei (L) and Wang Yutong, pose at the Fourth Beijing Twins Cultural Festival, at the city's Honglingjin Park, on Tuesday, October 2, 2007. 

Several pairs of twins and a set of triplets pose for photos at the Fourth Beijing Twins Cultural Festival, at the city's Honglingjin Park, on Tuesday, October 2, 2007. 

(CRI October 3, 2007)