The Beijing Paralympics closed Wednesday with a colourful ceremony. (Getty Images)

The Beijing Paralympics ended Wednesday with a colourful closing ceremony.

Thousands of leaves and petals fell from the sky and burst into an extravaganza of colour in front of almost 100,000 spectators at Bird’s Nest National Stadium.

The ceremony was based on the theme of rebirth and hope for the future.

Organizers asked every spectator in the stadium to write blessings and wishes on a special postcard to be sent wherever they chose. The intent was to spread a "feeling of hope" to countries around the world.

"These Games have been great Games," said International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven, before declaring the Beijing Paralympics over. "Everybody realizes that. These are the greatest Paralympic Games ever."

The ceremony marked the end of Beijing’s six-week run as centre of the sports world.

It also marked the end of seven intensive years of preparations for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, and $40 billion US in spending on venues and infrastructure — all meant to symbolize China's emergence as a leading nation in the 21st century.

China topped the medal tally at the Paralympics, finishing with 211 medals including 89 gold.

Organizers of both the Olympics and the Paralympics won praise for staging well-run events.