Special article: Eastern Tide Dreams Reveal Qiantang - Asian People Looking Forward to Experience the Charm of Hangzhou Asian Games - China | Charm | Asia

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 20th (Xinhua) - East Tide Dreams Start Qiantang - Asian People Looking Forward to Experience the Charm of Hangzhou Asian Games

Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhu Ruiqing and Xie Lin

By the Qiantang River, the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium quietly awaits the lighting of the Asian Games torch. The sound of the water crashing on the banks of the Qiantang River will intersect with the cheers and cheers of athletes and spectators from various Asian countries, witnessing the opening of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Hangzhou, this millennium old capital, in the eyes of Marco Polo, is known as the "most beautiful and luxurious city in the world", and will ignite new charm sparks in its encounter with the Asian Games. Asian people eagerly look forward to discovering the charm of chasing dreams through the hard work of athletes, experiencing the interweaving charm of traditional Chinese culture and modern vibrant cities in the ancient Hangzhou, and experiencing the charm of Asian unity in the gathering of Asian families.

This is a photo taken on June 28, 2023, of the sports stadium complex at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Zongzhi

Tide and Dream Chasing Charm

"Every time I survive a conflict, I tell myself to continue pursuing my dreams."

Abdullah Alkan, a beach volleyball player from the Gaza Strip in Palestine, has been sweating profusely every day since qualifying for the Hangzhou Asian Games. The frailty of his childhood and the dilapidated training facilities were not obstacles, and the raging war could not stop his pursuit of dreams. Abdullah has always hoped that one day, like his father and coach Khalid Alkan, he can represent Palestine in international events such as the Olympics and Asian Games. Today, at the age of 20, his dream came true.

The tide meets the rocks, bursting with flying flowers, just like athletes with dreams, persevering and persevering, fearless of obstacles, moving forward all the way. This is exactly the meaning of the emblem of the Hangzhou Asian Games, "Tide". The main graphic, which is composed of six elements: fan, Qiantang River, Qianjiang Tidewater, race track, Internet symbol and the sun graphic representing the Asian Olympic Council, is both poetic and picturesque in the south of the Yangtze River, and symbolizes the spirit of striving to be the first and stand up to the tide bravely.

After the Mid Autumn Festival on the Qiantang River, the sound of strong winds and tides rushes thousands of horses. The Hangzhou Asian Games coincides with the Mid Autumn Festival in the Chinese lunar calendar, and is also the best viewing period for the annual Qiantang River Tide. At that time, both inside and outside the Hangzhou Asian Games, there will be a surge of excitement.

Asian countries participating in the competition are trendsetters with their own dreams in mind. Afghan youth Mohammad Khalid Hotak became a martial arts athlete due to his obsession with Chinese kung fu. He regarded the hard work on the field as a good medicine to heal the pain of war. I am delighted to have chosen this sport, where martial arts convey peace and friendship to people. Nepal has never won a gold medal at the Asian Games, and Nepalese karate athlete Biplov Ral Shresta hopes to win a gold medal in Hangzhou and achieve a breakthrough of zero. At the Hangzhou Asian Games, esports has become an official competition event for the first time. Saudi Arabia's esports national team coach Fahd Huwasin is looking forward to exchanging ideas with Chinese players in the esports event. Tajik male 57kg boxer Aslor Vohidov sees the Hangzhou Asian Games as a new starting point, pursuing his dream of winning medals at the Olympics in the future.

The dynamic Hangzhou in early autumn is a stage for realizing dreams; On the sports field, the passionate struggle of athletes embodies the charm of pursuing dreams. As the head of the Japanese delegation to the Asian Games and the president of the Japan Athletics Association, Takashi Oita, said, "We hope that athletes can perform their best and convey the charm of sports to the public."

On September 18th, at the main media center of the Hangzhou Asian Games, the mascot Chen Chen was with the staff. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xue Yuge

Memories of Jiangnan: The Charm of Culture

In memory of Jiangnan, the most memorable place is Hangzhou.

The mascot of the Asian Games, "Jiangnan Memories", can be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys of Hangzhou: Cong Cong wearing the Liangzhu "God Man Beast Face Pattern" headdress, Lian Lian with the "Three Ponds Printing the Moon" on top of her head, one of the ten scenic spots of West Lake, and Chen Chen with the imagery of the Gongchen Bridge of the Beijing Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Qianjiang River Tide. In the Hangzhou Asian Games Village, these "three little ones" transform into traffic lights; In the welcoming area of the airport station, they warmly welcome guests from all walks of life with a cute and charming demeanor; By the West Lake, they accompany tourists to check in on various delicious and fun things

These three mascots, which contain elements of traditional Chinese culture, are loved by people from various Asian countries. In the view of Pierre Jarkh, President of the Lebanese National Olympic Committee, "China can always showcase its long history and culture in creative ways.". Rowa, who is studying at the University of Qatar, believes that "incorporating traditional Chinese elements into the Asian Games logo is cool", and "the design of the mascot will arouse people's interest in Chinese culture, prompting them to deeply understand and learn about Chinese culture.".

The Hangzhou Asian Games Village is a window that showcases traditional Chinese culture. There is a cultural house in the village that showcases over 40 intangible cultural heritage skills. The Asian Games Village has also carefully prepared cultural performances with themes such as "Encountering Mid Autumn Festival" and "Encountering Jiangnan", as well as special concerts and cultural markets, allowing "villagers" to immerse themselves in the charm of traditional Chinese culture.

Cities are carriers of culture. Taking advantage of the Asian Games, Hangzhou has become a beautiful business card showcasing traditional Chinese culture to the whole of Asia and even the world. Strolling West Lake, checking in on the "Big Lotus", and collecting "Memories of Jiangnan" have become new trends nowadays. Whether it is the design of venues such as "Big Lotus", "Small Lotus", "Big Jade Cong", or "Hangzhou Umbrella", or the "Fireworks" torch that incorporates the elements of Liangzhu Jade Cong, the "Lake and Mountain" medal and "Blue and White Porcelain" dress that showcase the landscape of Hangzhou's lakes and mountains, and the Asian Games core graphic "Runze" that uses Hangzhou's specialty silk, all add a profound cultural background to this grand event.

Recently, at the Hangzhou Asian Games and Zhejiang Tourism Theme Promotion Conference held in Tehran, the capital of Iran, some Iranian athletes excitedly said that they are very honored to have the opportunity to participate in Hangzhou and hope to experience the charm of Chinese culture and the unique style of Hangzhou from zero distance.

"Hangzhou has a long history and beautiful scenery. This Asian Games will perfectly showcase the beauty and characteristics of Chinese culture, allowing audiences from all countries to appreciate China's cultural heritage." said Badama Lisvadagong, Vice President of the Thai Olympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee.

This is the Leifeng Pagoda in the West Lake Scenic Area of Hangzhou, taken on April 19, 2022. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Zongzhi

Heart to heart integration and the charm of unity

For Jiang Jie, who is 60 years old this year, coming to the Hangzhou Asian Games this time is both a way home and a way out.

At the 11th Asian Games held in Beijing 33 years ago, Jiang Jie and his teammates won a gold medal in men's volleyball for China. Now, as a coach, he leads the Indonesian men's volleyball national team to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games and strives to achieve good results.

The charm of sports lies in promoting communication, enhancing friendship, and uniting. The Hangzhou Asian Games is a grand event of friendship and unity. The theme slogan of "Heart to Heart Integration, Love for the Future" conveys the expectations of people from all Asian countries to blend and tolerate each other on the stage of the Asian Games. This is in line with the ideal of unity and close embrace of the "Asian family", and also aligns with the Olympic spirit of "faster, higher, stronger - more unity".

This theme conveys an important idea that we should treat each other sincerely and understand each other with heart. It reminds us that the road ahead is still long and we need to ensure that we always move in the right direction, so that we can look forward to a better future together. Vice President of the Thai Olympic Committee, Jalon Wadanashin, said.

The speech by Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly, Chen Guangfang, at the Vietnam delegation's departure ceremony for the Hangzhou Asian Games coincided with the theme of "Heart to Heart Integration, Love for the Future". He said that the Hangzhou Asian Games is a grand event for athletes from various Asian countries and regions, which will enhance mutual understanding, unity, and friendship among Asian countries and regions, and contribute to the construction of an increasingly strong and prosperous Asia.

Jabil Rajub, Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement and Chairman of the Palestinian Youth and Sports Supreme Committee, stated in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that the Hangzhou Asian Games is a grand gathering for the "Asian family" to reunite, which will further promote sports and cultural exchanges among Asian countries and regions, and enhance friendship among Asian people.

The sound of the Qiantang tide crashing on the shore marks the opening of the Hangzhou Asian Games. In the common expectation of people from all Asian countries, this sports event will gather the spirit of shared destiny, solidarity, and progress in Asia, inspiring Asian countries to move forward hand in hand in the trend of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win!