Fireworks are seen during the opening ceremony of the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Aug. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

*The ancient Chinese characters for "Chengdu" lit up the night sky in fireworks during the opening ceremony of the 12th World Games, blending thousands of years of cultural heritage with modern spectacle.

*From handcrafted bamboo placards to Shu brocade qipao, Chengdu showcased its rich intangible cultural heritage throughout the ceremony, setting a new benchmark for cultural presentation at international sporting events.

*Athletes embraced Chengdu's unique charm through immersive cultural experiences - from Sichuan opera and Sanxingdui replicas to panda-themed crafts - highlighting the city's openness, creativity and vibrant daily life.

by Xinhua writers Zhang Xudong, Tu Ming and Zhang Tianlang

The ancient seal script characters for "Chengdu," inscribed over two millennia ago on bronze ware, came to life in a dazzling display of fireworks at the opening ceremony of the 12th World Games in the capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province on Thursday evening.

This fusion of Chengdu's historical and cultural legacy with the excitement of an international sporting event brought the ceremony to a resplendent climax.

Jose Perurena, president of the International World Games Association, stated that the Chengdu World Games would be more than just a sporting event - it would be a cultural festival.

Fireworks are seen during the opening ceremony of the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Aug. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

LEGACY SHINES

The Chinese characters for "Chengdu" were first discovered on locally unearthed bronze ware, highlighting the city's rich history and the fact that its name has remained unchanged for over 2,000 years.

During the opening ceremony, the characters "Chengdu" illuminated the night sky alongside 12 symbolic flowers, each representing a host city of the World Games. This was followed by the growth of a "Tree of Friendship," inspired by the ancient tree-root relics from Chengdu's Jinsha Site and the Sichuan native dove tree, unfolding a civilizational dialogue across mountains and seas and symbolizing peace, progress and friendship.

Launched in 1981, The World Games serves as a platform for non-Olympic sports, embracing self-expression and cultural inclusiveness. The Chengdu edition of the Games intertwines the historical heritage of Chinese culture with a modern international sporting event.

The flag of the International Olympic Committee, the flag of the International World Games Association, the Chinese national flag and the flag of the Organising Committee of the World Games 2025 Chengdu (L to R) are seen during the opening ceremony of the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Aug. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Qiao Wei, chief scriptwriter of the Chengdu World Games' opening and closing ceremonies, said that every detail of the opening ceremony - from stage performances to video presentations, and from the attire of the guides to the performers' headpieces - showcased Chengdu's rich cultural heritage.

The athletes' parade incorporated intangible cultural heritage elements from Sichuan, with placards handcrafted from traditional bamboo weaving and Chengdu's intricate silver filigree techniques. Traditional Shu brocade was also used in the Qipao (cheongsam) worn by the guides.

Members of the delegation of Belgium parade during the opening ceremony of the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Aug. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

"We hope these carefully designed elements allow the essence of local Ba-Shu culture to flow naturally and vividly, showcasing the unique charm of China's intangible cultural heritage to the world," said Wang Zhigang, chief visual designer of the opening ceremony.

The logo, torch, medals and mascot of the Chengdu World Games also feature elements of Chinese culture. The logo design, inspired by the giant panda, hibiscus flower and Chinese knot, reflects Chengdu's history and culture.

Xiao Xianjin (L), representative of Sanxingdui Museum, and Zhu Zhangyi, representative of Jinsha Site Museum, display the flame during the flame lighting ceremony before the World Games 2025 Torch Relay in Deyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

The World Games torch relay, a first in the event's history, commenced on July 26. Its six-stage journey, carried by 120 bearers wielding the "Bamboo Dream" torch, connected Chengdu's millennia-old heritage - embodied by the Sanxingdui ruins, Jinsha's Sun Bird, Panda habitats, Three Kingdoms sites, the legacy of the Three Su scholars, and Tianfu New Area's Xinglong Lake Wetland Park - with its modern pulse, culminating in the opening ceremony's lighting.

"It infused the spirit of Chengdu, the spirit of togetherness and the spirit of the Games," said British emblem designer John Fairley, who also participated in the torch relay.

INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGES

Located in southwestern China, Chengdu has long maintained its economic vitality and cultural prosperity through openness and inclusiveness. The Chengdu World Games is not only a grand celebration of sport, but also a platform for intercultural dialogue.

"This is not a monologue by a single city, but a chorus of diverse civilizations," said Cai Canhuang, chief fireworks designer of the opening ceremony. "We wanted to show the world coming together here, rather than simply saying welcome."

Fireworks are seen during the opening ceremony of the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Aug. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

The ceremony began with a large-scale street dance performance featuring hundreds of dancers, blending cityscape elements and daily life. This showcased contemporary Chinese culture, while extending Chengdu's welcome to guests and athletes from around the world.

"Street dance is widely recognized and beloved by young people across the globe. Through rhythmic movement, it conveys the spirit of freedom, life, joy and friendship," said Huang Peiling, deputy director of the opening ceremony. "With this opening performance, we wanted to present the energy and dynamism of today's China."

The spirit of cultural exchange extended beyond the opening ceremony performances to a variety of cultural activities, offering international athletes the chance to immerse themselves in Chinese heritage beyond the competitions.

Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Aug. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Before the Games officially started, participants witnessed a variety of experiences in the Athletes Village, from Sichuan Opera face-changing and sugar painting to creating replicas of Sanxingdui bronze sculptures, practicing Chinese calligraphy, and panda-themed painting. In the following days, additional cultural experiences included Shu brocade, shadow puppetry and paper cutting.

"I may not be taking home a medal, but my suitcase will definitely be full of souvenirs," laughed U.S. cheerleader Emma, holding up a freshly-made panda figurine.

In their downtime, athletes have ventured beyond the stadiums to explore iconic cultural landmarks such as the Sanxingdui Museum, Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum, and the Giant Panda Base, experiencing the vitality of daily life in Chengdu, one of China's most renowned travel destinations and a paradise for food lovers.

Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the TWG village for The World Games (TWG) 2025 Chengdu in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

At the revitalized industrial complex Eastern Suburb Memory, Ida Hudson, goalkeeper of Canada's women's national floorball team, explored exhibits, browsed local markets, and tried on the traditional Hanfu attire.

"This place is so creative, transforming an old factory into a trendy, modern block while preserving the essence of traditional culture. I love it!" she said.

Mohamed Elsherbeiny, international tourism director of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, visited Chengdu as part of a Chinese language training program for officials from Belt and Road countries ahead of the World Games, and expressed his admiration for the city.

"Chengdu is truly unforgettable," he said, offering a heartfelt message to Egyptian athletes. "After the competition, be sure to experience life in Chengdu. You're going to fall in love with this city."