GUANGZHOU, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's 15th National Games, hosted for the first time across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, opened on Sunday evening with a ceremony highlighting cultural heritage and technological innovation.

NATIONAL GAMES GOES TRI-REGION

For the first time since the inaugural National Games in 1959, the event is being staged across three regions: Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

The opening ceremony underscored unity, as athletes from all three regions entered the stadium together to loud applause. Chinese national flags in the main stadium in Guangzhou, as well as in Hong Kong and Macao, were raised simultaneously, reflecting Greater Bay Area cooperation and national pride.

SHARED DREAM IGNITED

Elite athletes from across the country carried the flame, sourced from 1,522 meters beneath the South China Sea, into the venue.

In a joint moment, the final torchbearers, Guangdong sprinter Su Bingtian, Asia's 100m record holder, Hong Kong Olympic fencing champion Cheung Ka Long, and Macao's Li Yi, Asian Games wushu gold medalist, lit the main cauldron.

CIRCLE AND WATER SYMBOLIZE UNITY

The theme of unity was reflected in a circular main stage surrounded by a water-stage ring.

"We used the circle as the core element, with a circular stage and patterns throughout to express the dream of coming together," said Huang Peiling, deputy director of the opening ceremonies.

"These three regions are closely connected to water - the sea and sky blend as one. From the ceremonies to the performances, we highlighted water to give the opening ceremony a lively, fluid energy," added Chen Weiya, artistic director of the opening ceremonies.

CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Performances showcased Greater Bay Area traditions alongside newer elements, including the Yingge dance, Guangdong lion dance and Cantonese opera.

The ceremony also paid tribute to the region's martial arts heritage, noting figures such as Wong Fei Hung, Ip Man and Bruce Lee, and positioned those references alongside modern sport.

TECHNOLOGY DRIVES INNOVATION

As one of China's most dynamic economic regions, the Greater Bay Area highlighted technological themes during the opening ceremony.

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."