People participate in a carnival parade in celebration of the 16th anniversary of Macao's return to motherland and the 10th anniversary of the historical sites listed as World Heritage, in Macao, south China, Dec 6, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

MACAO - Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) kicked off a carnival parade Sunday in celebration of the 16th anniversary of its return to motherland and the 10th anniversary of the historical sites listed as World Heritage.

With the theme of "treasure hunt adventure of mascot VIVA," the "Parade through Macao, Latin City" gathered more than 1,500 performers from over 10 countries and regions, including Portugal, France, Peru, Brazil, among others, as well as Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

Three local illustrators were invited to create three-dimensional sculptures and interesting characters along the parade route, and a "Face Painting Workshop" was set up where professionals offer participants colorful face painting, through which they can fully immerse themselves in the carnival joy.

Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao SAR, the carnival this year featured dancing, mime, magic, opera and martial arts, helping build a cultural exchange platform and an incentive for artistic creativity.

The event attracted tens of thousands of residents and tourists, digging deeply into the diverse cultural atmosphere of Macao.

Macao Lights Festival also opened Sunday night, with 11 culture heritage sites being illuminated to increase tourism attraction and enhance the festive atmosphere.