MACAO -- The government of China's Macao Special Administrative Region on Sunday afternoon held an international parade to mark the 18th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

Performers take part in the Macao International Parade in Macao, south China, Dec. 17, 2017. The parade was held here on Sunday to mark the 18th anniversary of Macao's return to China. Over 60 performing groups took part in the parade. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

With the theme "Feature of Local Districts and Historic Monuments", the parade attracted more than 60 participating groups from the Chinese mainland, China's Hong Kong as well as foreign countries including Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Portugal, Austria, France, Cape Verde, among others.

The parade featured a series of performances such as folk dances, acrobatics, stilt walking, Chinese martial arts and puppet shows.

The parade started from the renowned Ruins of St. Paul's and finally ended at Sai Van Lake Square, where the groups took to the stage one by one.

The parade, one of the major cultural events in Macao since 2011, was organized by Macao's Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Macao government Tourism Office.