Pop megastar Michael Jackson's juggernaut album "Thriller" was re-released worldwide for its 40th anniversary. Local fans gathered to dance and celebrate at Beijing's landmark commercial venue. 

On Saturday, a flash mob of Michael Jackson fans danced in front of a giant 3D screen at TaiKoo Li Sanlitun, a Beijing shopping, dining, and entertainment precinct. While the fans danced, an advertisement for the "Thriller" re-release was played on the big screen. Sony Music Entertainment China arranged the stunt. 

"'Thriller' revolutionized the music industry in various aspects and is still relevant today. It should be celebrated and remembered forever. We are here to mark its legacy and Michael's immortal art, which still inspires generations of artists and people from all walks of life," said Keen, president of Michael Jackson Chinese Fanclub. 

To mark the anniversary, Sony Music and the Estate of Michael Jackson released "Thriller 40" on Nov. 18, a double CD set comprised of Jackson's original masterpiece "Thriller." A second disc, full of surprises for fans, includes never-released demos such as "Who Do You Know" and "What A Lovely Way To Go," which were worked on by Jackson for the "Thriller" album.

In addition, transferred from the original film masters, for the first time, 4K high-definition versions of the "Beat It" and "Thriller" short films are now available on various video streaming platforms. Two new music videos for his songs "Human Nature" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" will also be released. In China, "Thriller 40" is available on various music streaming platforms like QQ Music and NetEase Cloud Music, though fans also hope for a physical release.

The Beijing celebration is part of a global campaign. The pop-up events and worldwide activations planned to honor the King of Pop's masterpiece kicked off with an immersive experience in Dusseldorf, Germany, from Nov. 10-13. The immersive event was also held in New York over the last weekend. Meanwhile, China's Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as other international cities including Buenos Aires, Paris and Milan, also held fan event parties.  

A documentary detailing the making of the iconic album will be previewed for fans on Nov. 30 in several cities, such as Los Angeles and London. It will be officially released in January next year, according to John Branca, the co-executor of the Michael Jackson estate.

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" won a record-setting eight Grammys, smashed musical barriers and changed the frontiers of pop music and music videos forever. The epic creation has spent more than 540 weeks on the Billboard album chart and sold over 100 million albums since its release on Nov. 30, 1982.

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