Games Village gets into festive spirit

Athletes, officials and media enjoy traditional treats

Mooncakes, jade rabbits, and osmanthus scent ... Cultural elements representing the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival can be seen in every corner of the Asian Games Village, forming a cozy and warm atmosphere to celebrate the reunion day, the sixth medal day of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.

To enable attendees of the Games to soak up some Chinese culture, a series of galas and interactive activities have been held across the Asian Games Village and the host city.

According to Xu Deqing, director of the publicity department of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, two special events and three evening galas were held in the Asian Games Village during the festival, including the "Encounter Mid-Autumn Festival" Gala, which was held on the Riverfront Walk and the Mid-Autumn Festival Fête at the Volunteer Services Centre in the Athletes' Village.

A night fair was held in the Athletes' Village, which kicked off with the lighting of a 3-meter high and 5-meter wide traditional lantern adorned with jade rabbit motifs.

"During the festival, we lit the jade rabbit lights simultaneously in three villages — the Athletes' Village, Media Village, and Technical Officials' Village — to express our good wishes to all," said Wei Hong, deputy director-in-charge of the Asian Games Village Operations Centre.

"The night fair is a popular leisure activity among Hangzhou residents. That is why we set one up in the Athletes' Village.

"They can interact with the intangible cultural heritage, buy cultural handicrafts, experience traditional games, such as shuttlecock, cuju, make lanterns, and try on hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing)," added Wei.