The 15th National Games reached a new milestone on Sunday (November 2) with its first-ever cross-boundary torch relay, held simultaneously across Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, marking one week to the grand opening of the Games.

The event began with a launch ceremony in Shenzhen, before the flames journeyed through the four key cities of the Greater Bay Area. The Shenzhen 45-kilometre route held particular significance, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. A humanoid robot was also featured during the procession, leading the opening ceremony as a torchbearer.

The Guangzhou leg of the relay connected historical treasures such as the Ming Dynasty City Wall with its modern cityscape.

In Hong Kong, the route passed iconic landmarks such as the Central Promenade and Golden Bauhinia Square.

The relay in Macau took place among its numerous historical and cultural landmarks, vividly highlighting the city’s unique charm as a confluence of Chinese and Western cultures.

A total of 200 torchbearers from all walks of life joined the relay, with 50 running in each city. The four flames later converged in Guangzhou, merging into a single symbolic flame that will light the main cauldron at the opening ceremony on November 9.

Source: China Central Television