The opening ceremony of China's 15th National Games will blend elements of south China's Lingnan culture using modern technology and artistic techniques, creating a spectacular fusion that celebrates regional heritage in a vibrant and contemporary way. Scheduled for Sunday night in Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province, this landmark event marks the first time Guangdong and the neighboring Special Administrative Regions (SARs) of Hong Kong and Macao will co-host the country's premier multi-sport competition, alongside the National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the National Special Olympic Games. The Lingnan culture, also known as the Cantonese culture, refers to the regional Chinese culture of the region of Lingnan: twin provincial-level regions of Guangdong and Guangxi, the names of which mean "eastern expanse" and "western expanse", respectively. Organizers hope the ceremony will highlight the unity of these three southern neighbors, bound by shared history and culture. Traditional performances such as lion and Yingge dances, along with dragon boat racing, will be brought to life with cutting-edge audiovisual effects. "Victoria Harbor borders Hong Kong, Macao borders Lingdingyang Bay, and the Pearl River feeds Guangzhou. So, water is a shared memory for the people of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. Water elements are integrated into the music, performances, and ceremonies," said Huang Peiling, member of the Opening Ceremony Directing Team. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) city cluster is a melting pot of diverse cultures, including the Cantonese, Chaoshan, and Hakka communities. This rich cultural diversity has inspired the creative team to craft a performance that honors tradition while embracing innovation. "I'm both nervous and excited. Nervous because the opening day is quickly approaching, and excited because I get to showcase Chaoyang Yingge dance to audiences nationwide and help everyone better understand this intangible cultural heritage," said Yao Zekai, a member of the Chaoyang Yingge Dance Troupe. To immerse the 80,000 spectators in the stadium and millions more watching TV or online, the ceremony will integrate film, music, sound effects, and virtual and augmented reality technologies. "The sound engineer installed sound systems at every seat, aiming to deliver cinema-quality surround sound. Coupled with lighting effects, we wanted every audience member to experience the perfect presentation," Huang said. The games, expected to run through November 21, feature 34 sports with 419 events in the competitive program and 23 sports with 166 events in the mass participation program. More than 20,000 athletes are set to compete in the final phase. The video shows: Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, south China - Nov 7, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Various of rehearsal for opening ceremony of China's 15th National Games in progress 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese dubbed in English) Huang Peiling, member of Opening Ceremony Directing Team: "Victoria Harbor borders Hong Kong, Macao borders Lingdingyang Bay, and the Pearl River feeds Guangzhou. So, water is a shared memory for the people of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. Water elements are integrated into the music, performances, and ceremonies." 3. Various of rehearsal in progress 4. Various of performers having makeup done 5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese dubbed in English) Yao Zekai, member of Chaoyang Yingge Dance Troupe: "I'm both nervous and excited. Nervous because the opening day is quickly approaching, and excited because I get to showcase Chaoyang Yingge dance to audiences nationwide and help everyone better understand this intangible cultural heritage." 6. Chaoyang Yingge dance team posing for readiness 7. Various of performers having makeup done, directing team watching 8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese dubbed in English) Huang Peiling, member of Opening Ceremony Directing Team (partially overlaid with shot 9): "The sound engineer installed sound systems at every seat, aiming to deliver cinema-quality surround sound. Coupled with lighting effects, we wanted every audience member to experience the perfect presentation." ++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 9. Various of audience members, rehearsal in progress ++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 10. Various of performers during rehearsal [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]