The 19th Asian Games flame was lit at the Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins Park in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province on June 15. The 5,300-year-old Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu have revealed the ancient urban planning, water conservation, rice cultivation and social hierarchy systems of the region, making it an outstanding example of early urban civilization in the late Neolithic Period. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.

The lantern carrying the 19th Asian Games flame that arrived at the West Lake on September 7, the day before the torch relay event, has drawn a great deal of attention due to its intricate design. The idea for the lantern design was inspired by an ancient Chinese lantern, which was held in a square case and engraved with jade patterns. The lantern was also specially designed to be windproof from any angle to prevent the flame from being extinguished.

The torch relay for the 19th Asian Games started in Hangzhou on September 8, touring the cities of Huzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing, Ningbo, Zhoushan, Taizhou, Wenzhou, Lishui, Jinhua and Quzhou over the following days, before returning to Hangzhou on September 20 on the last leg. The relay showcases the sporting spirit and unique historical and cultural significance of these eleven cities, while echoing the theme of the 19th Asian Games - "Heart to Heart, @Future."

Named the "Eternal Flame," the symbolic torch of the 19th Asian Games features design elements from China's long and rich history of civilization to celebrate this grand sporting event and convey blessings to the world.

The torch also contains depictions of Chinese heritage, natural scenery and local customs, to show the wisdom of ancient China, the development of modern China, and hopes for the future China through a visual language. What's more, cutting-edge blockchain technology was used in the design of the torch to ensure its traceability.