In a delightful touch to rev up the Asian Games' spirit, Hangzhou City has transformed its usual human traffic sign figures with irresistibly cute images of the event's mascots.

Drawing inspiration from three of Hangzhou's World Heritage sites, these mascots are not just about charm but also encapsulate the rich cultural heritage of the city.

Congcong echoes the ancient wonders of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City. Lianlian is reminiscent of the serene beauty of the West Lake. Chenchen channels the grandeur of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

A local resident couldn't hide her delight, saying, "I absolutely favour traffic lights like this. Why? Simply because they've never looked cuter!"

Echoing her sentiment, Zhu Kanlei from the Asian Games Village Media Center chimed in, "They're incredibly lovely and a refreshing change. They've instantly elevated the festive atmosphere of the Asian Games. Truly a delightful surprise!"

STORY: Traffic lights with mascots add to atmosphere of the Hangzhou Asian Games
DATELINE: Aug. 30, 2023
LENGTH: 00:00:55
LOCATION: HANGZHOU, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the traffic light
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): Resident
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHU KANLEI, Asian Games Village Media Center

STORYLINE:

The atmosphere of the Hangzhou Asian Games is building up everywhere in the city.

Images of the three adorable mascots have replaced the original human figures on some traffic signs.

The mascots were inspired by three World Heritage sites in Hangzhou.

Congcong represents the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City.
Lianlian represents the West Lake.
Chenchen represents the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): Resident
"I prefer traffic lights like this.
(Why?)
Because they look cuter this way."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHU KANLEI, Asian Games Village Media Center
"Very lovely and very novel. They immediately add to the atmosphere of the Asian Games. It's a pleasant surprise."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hangzhou, China.
(XHTV)