Shining beacon of unity

A total of 30 torchbearers were chosen through a random draw of public online applications, which totaled over 5 million entries.

Large crowds gathered along the route and cheered for each torchbearer.

"A healthy body is the foundation for a good education," said torchbearer Chen Liqun, a retired highschool principal who has won numerous awards and honors for helping poor students in remote areas.

"I have truly felt the anticipation and enthusiasm for the Asian Games from the Hangzhou people," said Olympic shooting champion Yang Qian.

Other torchbearers included table tennis world champion Fan Zhendong, Paralympic swimming gold medalist Song Maodang and Olympic champion shuttler Chen Yufei.

Weighing 1.2 kilograms and 73 centimeters in length, the torch takes its design cues from the 5,000-year-old Liangzhu civilization.

"The name of the torch reflects how Chinese culture has been passed down from generation to generation," explained Wang Yun, dean of the Industrial Design and Research Institute at the China Academy of Art.

The top of the torch resembles a cong, an ancient Chinese jade artifact. The burner nozzle takes its shape from the earliest oracle bone character of "cong", which means "light traveling in a cylinder".

The surface engravings are inspired by spiral patterns highly valued by the Liangzhu civilization.

The base of the torch is embossed with eight "water veins", symbolizing the eight major river systems in Zhejiang.

Advanced technology helps the torch remain lit even in adverse weather conditions, gale-force winds and heavy rainfall.