Hangzhou's marvelous mascots 'extend warm invitation to world'

The mascots for the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, were officially unveiled at an online ceremony on Friday.

The three mascots－named Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen－represent the Liangzhu Archaeological Ruins, the West Lake and the Grand Canal in Hangzhou respectively, all of which have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Congcong, named after the renowned jade cong artifacts that were excavated from the Liangzhu site, is decorated with ancient tao tie patterns, which symbolize indomitable courage and self-transcendence, according to the Games' organizing committee. Yellow is the color of the earth and the harvest, and Congcong represents the embodiment of perseverance and the aspiration for a better life.

The green-colored Lianlian is inspired by lotus leaves, which are symbolic of Hangzhou's West Lake. Lianlian represents purity, hospitality and opening-up. Lianlian also conveys the wish of building a shared future for mankind.

Chenchen, derived from the Gongchen Bridge over the Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal, is colored blue to represent science and technology. This mascot embodies courage, optimism and inclusiveness, according to the organizing committee.

"Epitomizing the city's culture and economy, the mascots will extend our warm invitation to friends throughout the world," said Chen Weiqiang, deputy secretary-general of the Games' organizing committee and vice-mayor of Hangzhou.

In a letter of congratulation to organizers, Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, president of the Olympic Council of Asia, described the mascots as vibrant and rich in content. He added that they "integrate Chinese culture, characteristics of the city of Hangzhou, the spirit of the Asian Games and the Asian continent", and expected them to bring joy and health to Asia and the world.

The mascots, designed by two teachers at the Hangzhou-based China Academy of Art, were selected from over 4,600 submissions from home and abroad since April 2019.