China’s 15th National Games opened with a ceremony highlighting cultural heritage and technological innovation.
The opening ceremony captivated audiences under the theme “Shared Roots, Shared Heart, Shared Dream” on November 9th.
The event underscored unity, as athletes from all three regions entered the stadium together to loud applause. Chinese national flags were raised simultaneously in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macao, reflecting the Greater Bay Area.
The event in Guangzhou intertwined the rich cultural legacy and modern spirit of the Greater Bay Area through music, dance and cutting-edge digital technology.
Performances showcased Greater Bay Area traditions alongside newer elements, including the Yingge dance, Guangdong lion dance and Cantonese opera.
Using artificial intelligence, AR, VR and embodied robotics, the production team presented the concept of “bringing the sea into the venue.” On the 5,000-square-meter stage, technology enabled over 3,000 performers to create the visual effect of thousands.
“In the past, large-scale events like this required many performers,” said Meng Ke, executive director of the opening ceremony. “With technological advances, we can now create powerful effects with far fewer people and greater efficiency.”
Chen Qing, President of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, lauded the gala as a profound fusion of cultural strengths across the region.
Chen highlighted the collaboration among the Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao orchestras. He believes it exemplifies the joint development of culture and the arts across this dynamic area.
Written by Sha Liu, additional reporting by Xinhua and CGTN.
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