The opening ceremony of the 16th Asian Games, coming in November in Guangzhou, will surprise the world, Chen Weiya, the chief director of the event, has promised.
"You cannot imagine what it will be like," Chen, who was also the assistant director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, told China Daily in an exclusive interview.
"It is going to be quite different from opening ceremonies witnessed before. I hope the audience, both at home and abroad, appreciates our innovation."
The venue of the ceremony is one of the big innovations. Instead of stadiums, Chen has chosen the Haixinsha Island in the Pearl River for the main area of the performance.
The island is also located in the middle of the new urban area of Guangzhou, the capital of South China's Guangdong province.
Chen said the shape of the island, which, from an aerial view, resembles a large boat sailing east, inspired him.
"If there is one color to describe the whole ceremony, it would be blue," he said, adding the experience of watching the ceremony will be like taking a journey on the sea.
"The Cantonese cherish the Pearl River and they built the city along it. So I see water as a key element in the ceremony, which will also present the long and glamorous history of Asia."
Chen confirmed that unlike the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, which had about 14,000 performers, it will have fewer performers.
"After the Olympic Games ceremony, people's expectations are high. I never try to better my shows. I only try to make each one extraordinary by being different and creative," Chen said.
The Asian Games in November are considered another opportunity for China to show off its progress when about 25,000 athletes, coaches and journalists from 45 countries and regions gather in Guangzhou, a city of 10 million people.
Chen said the event will focus on showcasing the Lingnan culture, a long and special traditional culture covering Guangdong, Hainan provinces and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
"People living in this area are courageous and open-minded. They are the first batch of Chinese to reach out to the world, achieving success both home and abroad with their wisdom," Chen said.
In order to better present Guangzhou, he began to read the history of the city more than a year ago, he said.
He estimates the island can hold about 30,000 people, who will be seated in the west part of the island. The middle of the island will be used as the center stage.
Seating areas will be located along the Pearl River, as the river is also part of the performance.
