PresidentXiJinpinggreetsspectatorsattheopeningceremonyoftheHangzhouAsianGamesonSaturday.(Photo/Xinhua)Aspectacletosavor,andmorethanjustavisualfeast,astunningopeningceremonyladenwithHangzhoucharacteristicswowedtheworldonSaturday,asPresidentXiJinpingdeclaredthe19thAsianGamesopen.Withthecity'sprofoundhistory,cultureanditsmodernimagepresentedinaneye-catchingandhigh-techfashion,theopeningshowattheHangzhouOlympicSportsCentreStadiumhelpedtoexpressthehost'swarmhospitalityanditswishtounitetheworldthroughsports.Followinganopeningperformancedepictingtheautumnequinox,oneofChina's24solartermsthatcelebratestheharvestseason,over50,000spectatorsburstintocheersasXiannouncedtheopeningoftheHangzhouGames,makingtheZhejiangprovincialcapitalthethirdChinesecitytohostthecontinentalsportinggala,followingBeijingin1990andGuangzhouin2010.Withthegiantfloorscreenlightingtheway,theathletes'paradeproceededtothemelodyofOurAsia,playedtothepoundingbeatofdrumsbuiltintheshapeofosmanthus,thecityflowerofHangzhou,ferventlyextendingthecity'sinvitationtoAsia'sbest.Duringtheparade,imagesoficonicscenicspotsatHangzhou'sfamousWestLakewereprojectedontotheoval-shapedfloorscreen,withthescentofosmanthussprayedoutacrossthestadium,allowingmarchingathletesandspectatorstoenjoythecity'spicturesquesceneryinanimmersiveway.WangHao,presidentofthe19thAsianGamesHangzhouOrganizingCommittee,saidHangzhouishonoredtoplayhosttosuchagrandevent,wherefriendshipandmutualrespectarestrengthened.ThedigitaltorchbearerandOlympicswimmingchampionWangShunjointlylightthecauldronduringtheopeningceremonyoftheHangzhouAsianGamesattheHangzhouOlympicSportsCentreStadiumonSaturday.(Photo/Xinhua)"Inthisseasonofharvest,wegiveourbestwishestoalltheathletesandhopethattheywillcompetewithpassion,challengepersonallimits,striveforexcellenceandrealizetheirdreams,"saidWang,alsogovernorofZhejiangprovince."Wehopethatallparticipantswillengageinclosercommunication,appreciatethecultureofoneanother,buildstrongerfriendshipsandfindhappinessduringtheGames."RajaRandhirSingh,theactingpresidentoftheOlympicCouncilofAsia,showedappreciationfortheChinesehost'smeticulousorganizationinhisspeech."YouhavedoneafantasticjobinpreparingfortheAsianGames.Theone-yearpostponementduetothepandemicwasunprecedentedinOCAhistory,butyourdiligenceanddeterminationwillbearfruitoverthenext16daysandyouwillberewardedwiththemostmagnificentandsuccessfulAsianGamesever,"saidSingh."TheOCAsalutesyou!XieXie.Thankyou."Supportedbynewtechnologies,theHangzhouceremonyboastedmanyhistoricfirstsandhighlightedthesustainableanddigitallyenhancedfutureofsuchgalaevents,accordingtothecreativeteam.ForthefirsttimeinChina,organizersswitchedfromatraditionalfireworksshowtoavirtualdisplay,projectedontoagiantcurtainscreenthesizeofnineIMAXscreens.Anartisticperformance,themedas"TideSurginginAsia",capturedthecrowd'simaginationwithbreathtakingprojectionsdepictingHangzhou'spastandpresent,withglasses-free3Danimationsaccompanyingtraditionaldanceperformances.Thedesignofthecostumeswornbytheperformerswasinspiredbytheregion'srichhistoryandtimelessgrace,datingbacktotheSongDynasty(960-1279),withHangzhou'sancientartsofmusic,poetryandcalligraphyvividlyreflectedinthetextureandstyleofthedressesdesignedbyChuYan,aprofessoratBeijingInstituteofFashionTechnology.Forthefinale,hundredsofmillionsofvirtualsparks,eachrepresentingaparticipantoftheonlinetorchrelay,formedtheshapeofahumantorchbearer,whoranintothestadiumtolightthemaincauldrontogetherwiththephysicalrelay'sfinalbearer—ZhejiangnativeandOlympicchampionswimmer,WangShun.ToadheretotheprincipleofdeliveringthegreenestpossibleGames,zero-emissionmethanolwasusedtofuelallofthetorchesandthemaincauldron.Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.