BEIJING - China once again dazzled the world with a glittering ceremony as the Paralympics opened this morning (NZT) in the iconic "Bird's Nest" National Stadium with the message that all life has value and dignity.

Just weeks after billions around the globe enjoyed the breathtaking opening to the Olympics, Beijing showed once again it had raised the bar for such events.

In a nation in which the handicapped have long suffered discrimination, the themes of the performance were: "One World, One Dream" and "Transcendence, Integration, Equality."

New Zealand Paralympic Games Chef de Mission, Duane Kale, said the athletes and officials were amazed by what they saw.

"It was absolutely mind blowing. They promised us a spectacular event and they certainly delivered," he said.

"Staff and athletes, new and old, said it was the most spectacular they had ever seen."

Attending his fourth Paralympics, wheelchair rugby player Sholto Taylor carried the New Zealand flag as the athletes marched into the stadium.

Kale said he was confident the team of 30 Kiwi athletes could reach their goal of a minimum of 13 medals.

"There is a very defined measure of success we are aiming for and we make no secret that the team is small, but is a potential medal-winning team," he said.

The ceremony started at after a dramatic countdown. Fireworks rocked the stadium and lit up the night sky as the flag-waving crowd screamed and shouted in anticipation.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, among the dignitaries after holding talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, looked on as the athletes entered the futuristic stadium to roars of approval.

The 91,000-capacity crowd gave rousing welcomes to Iraq and Taiwan but went berserk when China's massive team entered the stadium, shouting "China. Go!"

Tens of thousands of flashlights formed a stunning backdrop to the three-hour show, during which 300 deaf girls performed a sign language dance dressed in white.

Twelve-year-old ballet student Li Yue, who lost her left leg in the devastating Sichuan earthquake earlier this year, captivated the crowd, dancing from her wheelchair.

Chinese President Hu Jintao then officially declared the 13th Paralympic Games open before the crowd watched spellbound as gold medallist Hou Bin, in a wheelchair, pulled himself up on a rope to the roof of the stadium to light the flame in the show's denouement.

A woman spectator breached the security cordon during the opening extravaganza and made it onto the arena before being swiftly removed by security personnel.