More than 300 noted Chinese musicians staged a gala on the night of December 21 at the Great Hall of the People to honor China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Macao.

Tonight's event was part of major celebrations in Beijing to mark Macao's historic return.

Top Chinese leaders Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing, and Li Lanqing were among the audience of 6,000.

The gala, "Ode to the Landscape," expressed the Chinese people' s pride and joy for the return of Macao, their yearning for the complete reunification of the motherland, and their best wishes for the country.

Cascades of flowers adorned the stage and auditorium, and in the middle of the curtain were five five-pointed stars over a white lotus flower, symbolizing of Macao's return to the embrace of the motherland, flanked by countless red peony flowers representing happiness, wealth, and prosperity.

The curtain was raised at 8 p.m. in a chorus of the Chinese national anthem.

The 90-minute program included "Hailing China," "Worldwide Jubilation," "Loving China," "Blessing China," and "Ode to the Landscape."

Renowned Chinese conductor Chen Xieyang directed more than 100 musicians of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the Beijing Film Studio Orchestra, along with 200 singers from the China Symphony Orchestra, Central Opera Theater, China Opera and Ballet Theater, and the Central Nationalities Orchestra.

The evening concluded with a rendition of the song "Singing in Praise of the Motherland".

The performance was staged jointly by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, and the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Despite the freezing cold, about 30,000 joyous Chinese partied past midnight Sunday on Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing to celebrate Macao's return.

The other two major events in Beijing over the past two days were a State Council reception for 4,000 Chinese and foreign guests, and a celebration rally at the Capital Stadium Monday evening.