An art performance was staged in a downtown square of Macao on November 20 to mark the 30-day countdown to Macao's return to the motherland.

Throngs of local residents flocked to the square to watch the singing, dancing, magic and acrobatic performances presented by artists from the south China city of Guangzhou.

Organizers said that the performances will also be held in a theater here Sunday night.

In another development, a ceremony was held here this afternoon to officially launch the issue of the Macao Encyclopedia, a landmark reference book, the first of its kind in Macao.

"The book can be taken as a milestone in the history of Macao, indicating that the region's academic level has been raised to a new level," said Ieong Wan Chong, co-compiler of the encyclopedia.

The book will help readers understand Macao better, Ieong said, explaining that it expounds every aspects of Macao, such as its politics, legal system, economy, history, geography, cultural affairs, education, religion, folk customs and celebrities.