BEIJING, Sept. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Like the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic Games has earned high praise from spectators all over the world.

    "It's my third Paralympic opening ceremony, and my opinion is that it's the best one," Thilo Rueckeis, a photographer from Berlin, told Xinhuanet.

    The grand ceremony was held in the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, Saturday evening.

    He said he was most impressed by the ballet performed by 12-year-old Li Yue from the Sichuan Earthquake zone. Li, a very beautiful and talented girl, lost her left leg but survived over 70 hours under the rubbles by dreaming being a ballerina. 

    Juan Ignacio Alvarez, a Spanish journalist, said the opening ceremony was fantastic, especially when Hou Bin, China's triple Paralympic high jump champion, climbed up to light the cauldron.

    Alvarez was also impressed by the warm and excited atmosphere in the stadium. "People are energetic and waving. I like the idea of having Paralympics in China," he said.

    "It's really warm and touching. The performance during the whole ceremony shows the spirit of humanity and care. Many scenes make people deeply touched inside," said Tang Mengmeng, an office perfunctionary living in Beijing.

    Zhang Zhiqiang, a lawyer, said he felt extremely moved when watching the episode "Four Seasons," which symbolizes the cycle of life with scenes of snowfield, peach flowers, lotuses and golden wheat on the central stage.

    "This is a special gift from the Beijing Paralympic Games to the disabled people across the whole world. Even the coldest winter is followed by a spring, I believe all the people -- able-bodied and disabled both enjoy beautiful life, and I wish Paralympians have good performance in Beijing," he said.