500 'Star Wars' Stormtroopers storm China's Great Wall

500 replicas of Stormtroopers gather on the steps of the Great Wall of China to promote 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'. Credit: Reuters

500 Stormtroopers marched onto the Great Wall of China on Tuesday to promote the upcoming release of ‘Star Wars: Episode VII –The Force Awakens’.

Fans, some dressed up as characters from the popular sci-fi saga, wielded toy lightsabers and climbed the steps of the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall in the darkness of the night for a chance to meet the army of Stormtroopers replicas.

A fan dressed up as a 'Star Wars' character standing in front of 500 Stormtroopers at a promotional event for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'. Credit: Reuters

A new trailer for the forthcoming film debuted on Monday during the halftime show of the Philadelphia Eagles v New York Giants American football game. The Chinese version of the trailer was released a day later.

500 replicas of Stormtroopers gather on the steps of the Great Wall of China to promote 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'. Credit: Reuters

The trailer also features lightsaber battles, dogfights between TIE and X-Wing fighters and a starring role for the Millennium Falcon.

The latest installment of the sci-fi franchise reunites three key characters from George Lucas's original trilogy: Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill ), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher).

Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill - stars of the original 'Star Wars' movie - reunite in the latest installment of the saga. Credit: 20th Century Fox/Star Wars Facebook

The movie opens in the UK on December 18, 2015.

Fans holding toy lightsabers arrive at the Great Wall of China for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' promotional event. Credit: Reuters