Splendid fireworks at the Opening Ceremony (Photo credit: Xinhua)

(Beijing, September 6) -- Fireworks, an essential element of the Olympic Games opening ceremony, were also a highly anticipated part of the Paralympics opening ceremony. The fireworks display revolved around the theme, "vast universe."

Cai Guoqiang, chief designer of visual effects, who impressed the world with his 29 giant firework footprints, created a new concept for the Paralympic ceremony. "The fireworks display features a map of the stars," said Zhang Jigang, executive director. "You will see the universe and the planets, among other things."

Fireworks over the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube (Photo credit: Xinhua)

The Opening Ceremony showed the gathering of cosmic beings and the dialogue among Heaven, Earth and People, and comprised three chapters: space travel, time travel and life travel based on the Paralympics logo ¨C heaven, earth and people. The performance reflected the search for the meaning of life by human beings, the fireworks display expressed China's unique views about the universe and life, and the dialogue between humans, between humans and nature, and between humans and the universe conveyed the idea that every life is valuable, dignified and filled with dreams.

Chief Director Zhang Yimou said that the fireworks displays in the Olympics and Paralympics Opening Ceremonies used cutting-edge technology unlike anything else in the world. It is through this advanced technology that the Opening Ceremony created a splendid starry sky.