The "2025 Macau International Colorful Parade" celebrating the 26th anniversary of Macau's return to the motherland was recently held. The streets and alleys of Macau have transformed into stages, with over 80 art groups from 15 countries and regions including China, Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and India gathered here to perform a multicultural carnival. At about 3:00 p.m. that day, the grand parade performance team of about 1800 people set out from the memorial archway of Dasanba in turn, singing and dancing all the way, and interacting closely with the citizens and tourists along the way. In September 2024, the 15th China Japan Korea Cultural Ministers' Meeting awarded commemorative plaques to Macau and Huzhou in China, as well as Kamakura City in Japan and Guoan City in South Korea, as the "East Asian Cultural Capital" of 2025. This grand parade invites art groups from Huzhou, Kamakura, and Ancheng to participate, showcasing the charm of East Asian culture. The Anji Bamboo Leaf Dragon Parade Team from Huzhou, Zhejiang is the first team to appear in this grand parade. Team leader Zhang Weibo said that he was very excited and thrilled to perform in Macau for the first time, and hoped to take this opportunity to share Anji's folk culture and art with people from all over the world. On the stage of the Macau International Colorful Parade, a team from Portugal flew drumsticks and played strong rhythms; A parade team from Italy is walking on stilts, as if floating on a layer of clouds; A dance team from Spain is dancing passionately, swaying their bodies to the fullest; A Macau University of Science and Technology art troupe played the Scottish bagpipes to play "Jasmine Flower"... "It's hard to describe my current mood in words!" Ms. Tang, a first-time visitor from Hubei, crowded in the crowd for an hour and a half, bluntly stating that she received an "unexpected surprise". She said she had never seen such a wonderful parade performance before and was very happy. Starting from the memorial archway of Dasanba, the parade team passed by the front of the Convention Pavilion, Nanwan Lake View Road, etc. Walking from the old streets and alleys of the historic city area into the bustling urban streets, as the procession moves, the background of the carnival changes. However, cheerful songs keep singing and happy dances keep dancing, showcasing the colorful cultures of different countries and ethnic groups while walking. Since its first event in 2011, the Macau International Colorful Parade has become one of Macau's annual festivals and an important cultural event, attracting many local residents and tourists from around the world. Anna, a resident of Macau, takes her children to watch the grand parade almost every year, hoping that they can experience the art and culture of different countries. She said, "This time of year is always the happiest moment, bringing us full energy." As the sun sets, the continuous performance team arrives at the final destination - Xiwanhu Square at the foot of the Macau Tower, to welcome the opening of the "East Asian Cultural Capital · Macau, China" activity year together. The "East Asian Cultural Capital - Macau, China" event year will cover a variety of cultural, sports, and tourism events, showcasing the charm of Chinese culture to the world and promoting international cultural and artistic exchanges. (New Society)