Torch relay for China's 15th National Games kicks off

The torch relay for the 15th National Games of China commenced at 9 a.m. on Sunday at Lianhuashan Park in the southern city of Shenzhen. 

The torch relay was held simultaneously in four locations: China's Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and the cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong Province.

The four relay locations

In Guangzhou, the torch relay route highlighted the city's heritage as a "Millennia-Old Commercial Capital," linking historical sites, such as the Zhenhai Tower, the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) city wall, the Five-Ram Sculpture and Tianzi Wharf, with modern landmarks including Ersha Island, the Xinghai Concert Hall, the Zhujiang New Town and the Haixinsha Asian Games Park.

The Shenzhen route was 45 kilometers long, combining about 5 kilometers of running with 40 kilometers of aerial transmission. The route emphasized the city's identity as a "City of Openness," connecting major landmarks such as the Civic Center, the Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base, and the Qianhai International Convention Center. 

The Hong Kong route started at the Central Government Complex at Tamar and ended at the Kai Tak Sports Park, crossing Victoria Harbour and passing through many famous landmarks such as Tamar Park, Central District, Wan Chai Promenade and Golden Bauhinia Square. Besides running, ferries and open-top buses were also used.

Meanwhile, the Macao route spanned about 2.6 kilometers across the peninsula, showcasing Macao's multicultural heritage and reflecting its harmonious coexistence of Eastern and Western cultures.