An international music and fireworks competition will be held during the Labor Day holiday at Daning Park, Zhabei District in Shanghai.

Shows will be held on April 30, May 3, and May 6, and ticket prices will range between 180 yuan (US$22) and 280 yuan. Each ticket is good for two shows.

A fireworks company from Liuyang City in Hunan Province will represent China in the competition against the United States, France, Italy, England, and Spain.

The teams won the chance to participate in the competition after a preliminary online test attended by more than 10 countries.

"Every group will present the most gorgeous fireworks with music in their national style to audiences and seven judges," said Wu Anguo, a manager from Shanghai Firecrackers Company, one of the promoters of the event.

The team from England will use seven famous pieces of music to match the firecrackers to compose a folktale.

The team from Italy will create a 20-meter-tall wall with fireworks.

The first competition on April 30 will pit China against England.

Competitors will be judged on the several criteria, including presentation and music, as well as technical requirements.

For example, the fireworks and music must end within 15 seconds of each other, according to Wu.

The Shanghai Fire Control Bureau is currently examining all of the fireworks to be used in the competition to avoid any potential threats of blaze.

Officials from the bureau will be present during the competition to ensure safety, Wu said. Organizers of the event haven't announced the size of cash prizes for the winning team.

(Shanghai Daily March 31, 2006)