The National Games are just days away. And it’s not just about sports. One of the most visible upgrades is already on the road: a fleet of driverless taxis will be on call around the clock. The vehicles are now in their seventh generation, with stability and reliability able to support real-world road use. Organizers plan to deploy more than a hundred driverless taxis at the media centre, competition venues and major hotels to keep athletes, officials and media moving efficiently during the Games.

Held across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the 2025 National Games will also test how seamlessly the Greater Bay Area can work together, not just logistically, but technologically.

This is called nano passive radiative cooling — a coating that will be sprayed on nearly 100 volunteer service stations and is expected to cut carbon emissions by about 200 tons. 

ZHU LONGQIAN/ Director, Building Energy Research Center, HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute:

It’s inspired by the hair structure of Saharan silver ants. The coating cools surfaces by over 15 degrees and indoor spaces by 3 to 5 degrees. Developed by several Hong Kong universities, it’s the first time this technology has been turned into a paint and commercialized on the mainland.

The National Games are more than a sporting event — they’re a showcase of what the Greater Bay Area can build when it works as one, on the field and on the road.