Special meanings of the 3 mascots of ASIAD 2023
The trio of mascots Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen are a group of robots that represent the rich heritage of Hangzhou, China and the dynamism of the 2023 Asian Games host city.
The organizing committee of the 19th Asian Games (ASIAD 2023) has chosen three mascots named Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen. This trio has won the hearts of the public since their debut.
Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen are a team of robots that represent the rich heritage of Hangzhou, China and the dynamism of the 2023 Asian Games host city.
Congcong represents the Liangzhu Archaeological Site, an early urban civilization in the late Neolithic period.
Located in the Yangtze River basin in Hangzhou, the site reveals a 5,300-year-old civilization with ancient urban planning and was recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2019.
The name Congcong comes from the Cong jade pendant excavated at the site. The pendant features intricate carvings that demonstrate both the extraordinary craftsmanship of the period and the charm of Liangzhu culture.
Congcong has a main color of yellow, symbolizing a bountiful harvest.
Meanwhile, with the main blue tone, Lianlian represents West Lake, a famous scenic spot in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.
West Lake is famous for its picturesque scenery and surrounding temples, pagodas and gardens featuring traditional Chinese architecture.
This scenic spot has been a source of inspiration for many poets and painters throughout Chinese history and was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2011.
In particular, the lotus flowers blooming in the summer bring a particularly picturesque scene to West Lake.
The name of the mascot Lianlian comes from the lotus leaves here. In addition, the lotus is also a symbol of purity, nobility and peace in Chinese culture.
Lianlian's headdress is also designed in the shape of a lotus leaf. That pure, lively and elegant image reflects grace, harmony and openness - the spirits that the mascot wants to convey.
The third mascot Chenchen represents the Grand Canal, the world's longest man-made waterway and is named after the iconic Gongchen Bridge that has stood for over 400 years.
The Grand Canal passes through four provinces, starting in Beijing and ending in Hangzhou.
The Grand Canal connects two of the largest rivers in the world - the Yangtze River and the Yellow River - as well as smaller waterways such as the Hai River, Qiantang River and Huai River.
Chenchen symbolizes the union of the Grand Canal, the Qiantang River and distant lands.
The main color of this mascot is blue. The spirit that Chenchen wants to convey is courage, intelligence, optimism and pioneering.
Chenchen serves as a bridge connecting Asia with the global community.
President of the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA), Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, highly appreciated the aesthetics and meaning of the mascots, which represent strong vitality and at the same time contain the unique culture of China, as well as the city of Hangzhou, promoting the spirit of ASIAD and the continent./.
