MACAO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- A grand gala was held in Macao on Thurday in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its return to the motherland.

Artists perform during a grand gala in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in the Macao East Asian Games Dome, south China's Macao, Dec. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Beginning with southern Guangdong lion dance, the gala included performance of classical songs expressing love for the motherland and Macao, a multimedia show displaying the glorious achievements of Macao in the past 20 years, as well as traditional operas and Portuguese-style dances depicting Macao's unique charm of a combination of Chinese and Western cultures.

Artists perform during a grand gala in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in the Macao East Asian Games Dome, south China's Macao, Dec. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Artists perform during a grand gala in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in the Macao East Asian Games Dome, south China's Macao, Dec. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Artists perform during a grand gala in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in the Macao East Asian Games Dome, south China's Macao, Dec. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Artists perform during a grand gala in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in the Macao East Asian Games Dome, south China's Macao, Dec. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Artists perform during a grand gala in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in the Macao East Asian Games Dome, south China's Macao, Dec. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Artists perform during a grand gala in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in the Macao East Asian Games Dome, south China's Macao, Dec. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Artists perform during a grand gala in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in the Macao East Asian Games Dome, south China's Macao, Dec. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Artists perform during a grand gala in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in the Macao East Asian Games Dome, south China's Macao, Dec. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)■