As the ancient metallic melody of Colored Clouds Chasing the Moon, a piece with a thousand-year history, softly resounded, iconic landmarks such as Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour, Macao's Ruins of St. Paul's, and Guangzhou's Canton Tower gradually unfolded across nine large screens at the opening ceremony of the 15th National Games... A cultural and sports extravaganza officially commenced on the evening of Nov. 9.
Numerous iconic and classic elements of Lingnan culture made their debut on the National Games stage. Representing Lingnan and the Greater Bay Area (GBA), they shared a story of inheritance and development—a tale of GBA and of China—with the world.
Blending traditional intangible heritage with modern art
The first chapter of the thrilling cultural performance traced the veins of civilization, looking back through time with "Over 1,000 years ago, Guangzhou was a starting point of the Maritime Silk Road," surveying the journey of struggle with "Over 100 years ago, it was here that the door to modern China's progress was opened," and celebrating the epic of reform and opening-up with "Over 40 years ago, it was also here that a path for constructing special economic zones was first forged." It showcased the continuous, shared roots and enduring vitality of GBA.
The second chapter integrated traditional intangible cultural heritage like martial arts, Cantonese opera, southern lion dance, and Yingge dance with modern art, demonstrating the spirit of Chinese sports. Amid the vibrant dragons and lions of Cantonese charm and martial spirit, the cities of GBA advanced together with unwavering solidarity.
Highlighting deep and natural cultural ties among three regions
The third chapter struck a powerful chord of Lingnan's early spring. The entire chapter used the blooming kapok flowers as its core imagery, composing a movement of the times with GBA's symphony, showcasing the elegance of a sports powerhouse and the shared dreams and future creation of the Chinese people.
This was an audio-visual feast where traditional Lingnan culture was deeply intertwined with cutting-edge technology: lion dances interplayed with AIGC and VR technology, Yingge drums and gongs paired with holographic projections were awe-inspiring, and the grand scene of dragon boat racing "rowed" into the audience via AR technology, delivering an immersive experience. Beyond well-known traditional elements like Cantonese opera, Wing Chun, and Qilin dance, cultural symbols scattered among the people—such as the intricate patterns of Guangdong embroidery, the radiant colors of Ganton enamel, and the three-dimensional collage of embedded porcelain—were innovatively redesigned by the creative team, blossoming anew on the opening ceremony stage.
Millennium ritual music
As a crucial part of the opening ceremony, the prelude to the cultural and sports display began with a dreamlike fusion of technology and culture titled "Millennium Dialogue": three robots holding mallets gently struck a model of a bronze Goudiao, producing the metallic sound from a millennium ago... The world heard the shared voice of the Chinese nation, and the extension and development of civilization became tangible in that moment.
The Goudiao is a bronze percussion instrument prevalent in the Wu and Yue regions during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Its name does not come from ancient texts but from inscriptions on the artifact itself. Upon learning about this cultural relic during preliminary research, the opening ceremony's creative team was inspired to dialogue with the millennium-old artifact using modern technology.
China has stringent regulations for the protection and utilization of cultural relics, making this sound collection a breakthrough attempt.
"We had to go through multiple layers of approval to 'invite out' the Goudiao for the first time," recalled Shu Nan, music director of the 15th National Games opening ceremony. "At that time, I knelt on the ground, reverently tapping it gently, and recorded all the sounds through technical means."
How to perfectly present this millennia-spanning sound? The creative team ultimately decided to complete this "Millennium Dialogue" by having robots representing Guangdong's cutting-edge technology strike the Goudiao, allowing the sound of the ancient artifact to resonate at the 15th National Games opening ceremony and letting the world hear the "shared voice of the Chinese nation."
"It is both incredible and something to be genuinely proud of," Shu said.
'I remember those days'
Martial arts actor Mo Tse, clad in white, descended from the sky, accompanied by lush "banana leaves." On the ground, a large group of martial artists brandished long staffs, their powerful movements splashing water on the liquid stage, appearing even more vigorous under the lighting. Set to the music of Laughter in the Vast Sea, the boldness and vitality of GBA people were fully expressed.
As the melodious strains of Cantonese opera faded, a massive "Ao fish" installation danced high in the air. Joyful drumbeats echoed the tune of A Man Should Strengthen Himself, while dancers waved flags on the liquid stage, accompanied by resolute shouts, fully demonstrating the pioneering and innovative spirit of the Bay Area people—"daring to be the first."
Amid changing lights, drumbeats resonating with heartbeats sounded, and the song Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies began. The entire audience erupted, raising phones with flashlights on, singing along to the beat. The chorus echoed like a reverberation of the era, weaving a picture full of hope and strength in song, profoundly interpreting the resilience and perseverance of GBA people in holding firm to their beliefs and bravely moving forward even in adversity.
Being a vivid imprint of Cantonese culture and the Hong Kong spirit, Hong Kong pop music is an essential chapter inseparable from discussions of Hong Kong and Cantonese culture. In the third chapter, the artistic energy of GBA gathered and blossomed: Hong Kong powerhouse singers like Joey Yung and Mike Tsang delivered stellar performances on stage, while the "GBA Brothers"—Jordan Chan, Michael Tse, Jerry Lamb, and Chin Ka-Lok—made a warm return with classic melodies.
This also marked the first time Cantonese pop songs were featured on a large national sports event stage. Qiao Wei, chief scriptwriter for the openings of the 15th National Games and Para Games, stated that when the third chapter needed to recall youth and look to the future, they selected songs that have accompanied the growth of generations in the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao.
"They represent the journey we have shared, as well as our common aspirations and strength."
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Huang Baoyi, Ao Minhui, Lu Jingyi, Hu Ruozhang, Li Ziyan; English Editor: Darius)
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