Macau Special: Fireworks fest among fall highlights for SAR

Autumn is widely regarded as the best season to visit Macau.

In the fall, the climate there is mild, and the special administrative region hosts a variety of cultural and sports activities.

One such activity is the 25th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, an event for which the local authorities advise tourists to "prepare to feast their eyes when Macau's skyline bursts with vibrant colors".

The Macau International Fireworks Display Contest - acclaimed as one of the best of its kind - takes place on the Macau Tower shorefront from mid-September to Oct 1 every year.

On Sept 14, 19, 21, 28 and Oct 1 this year, a total of 10 fireworks teams from around the world, including China, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, South Korea, Portugal, Australia, Italy, Canada and France will perform in this extravaganza of color, noise and light.

The last outing featured the two leading teams together in a dramatic and dazzling finale.

The year 2013 marks the 25th anniversary of this spectacular public event.

Started in 1989, the contest is an annual event that celebrates the achievements of the traditional Macau firecracker industry, as firecrackers were once one of Macau's three best-known handicrafts.

Thousands of visitors choose this time to come to Macau to enjoy an exotic holiday illuminated by spectacular displays in the night sky that can be seen from many vantage points on the Macau Peninsula and Taipa Island.

Starting last year, to add to the enjoyment of spectators, the fireworks performances were accompanied with a laser show, creating a marvelous spectacle of light and sound.