The flame lighting ceremony for China's 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games is held in Guangzhou, the capital of South China's Guangdong Province, on October 9, 2025. The flame used fire sourced from methane hydrate, or combustible ice, harvested from a depth of 1,522 meters in the South China Sea. Photo: cnsphoto

The torch relay for the 15th National Games of China is scheduled to start on Sunday, with four cities in the Greater Bay Area - Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao - hosting simultaneous relay events, officials announced at a news conference on Monday.

Tang Guohua, a senior official with the organizing committee's Guangdong division, said the relay would be held under the guiding principles of "green, shared, open and clean games" and in line with the vision of keeping the Games "simple, safe and wonderful." 

"We have established a command center with representatives from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to ensure smooth communication and coordination. Preparations are nearly complete," Tang said.

According to Tang, the torch relay will feature 200 torchbearers in total, with each city hosting 50 runners covering 50 to 100 meters each. 

A launch ceremony will be held at Lianhuashan Park in Shenzhen at 9 am on Sunday, with parallel starting ceremonies in Hong Kong, Macao and Guangzhou at 9:30 am. 

The relay will conclude with a merging ceremony at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center in Guangzhou around 5 pm, linking the outdoor relay to the indoor cauldron lighting set for the Games' opening ceremony on November 9.

Tang said the routes highlight both history and modernity. 

In Guangzhou, the route combines old landmarks such as Zhenhai Tower and the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) city wall with new icons like Ersha Island and the Haixinsha Asian Games Park. 

Shenzhen's route emphasizes its role as a city of openness and innovation, passing through local iconic areas that capture the city's vibrancy such as Citizens Center and the Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base.

"The torch relay reflects the fusion of tradition and technology," Tang said, before noting that Shenzhen's segment will adopt a "land-air-combined" format that integrates low-altitude flight elements and symbolizes the city's 45 years of reform and opening-up. 

"It presents Shenzhen as a city of reform, innovation and the future," he added.

For Hong Kong, the torch relay marks a historic first. 

"This is the first time Hong Kong has co-hosted a national sports event, which carries great significance," said Yeung Tak-keung, head of the Hong Kong coordination office for the National Games. 

The Hong Kong route will start from the Central Government Offices at Tamar and end at the Kai Tak Sports Park, passing through Victoria Harbour landmarks, including Golden Bauhinia Square and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. 

"The route showcases Hong Kong's vitality as an international metropolis and highlights the city's unique blend of old and new," Yeung said.

The Macao route will span 2.6 kilometers across the Macao Peninsula, connecting landmarks ranging from the government headquarters to the Ruins of St. Paul's, said Pun Weng-kun, head of the Macao coordination office for the National Games. 

"The torch relay provides a stage to showcase Macao's charm and multicultural heritage," said Pun. "It reflects the successful practice of 'one country, two systems' and Macao's harmonious coexistence of Eastern and Western cultures."

In addition to the relay, preparations for the Games are entering the final phase. Yeung said that more than 4,000 athletes and officials will participate in the Hong Kong events between late October and December. 

"We have designated four ports of entry and established dedicated immigration channels to facilitate smooth travel for participants," he said, adding that the first competition, beach volleyball, will begin on Friday in Victoria Park.

Pun said Macao's torch relay will not only celebrate sports but also promote tourism and local culture. 

"Through the relay and live broadcasts, audiences can enjoy the city's scenery and its world heritage sites before attending the Games," he said.

Tang emphasized that the relay aims to embody the unity and dynamism of the Greater Bay Area. 

"By linking the four cities through simultaneous torch relays and a same-day merging ceremony, we will showcase the 'one-hour living circle' of the region and its spirit of progress and integration," he said.