The mascots of China's 15th National Games, modeled after the rare Chinese white dolphin, also known as the "panda of the sea," are gaining popularity in Hong Kong for their adorable designs and animated public appearances.
The mascots, named Xiyangyang and Lerongrong, quickly became internet sensations following their debut at the opening ceremony of the Games on Nov 9. Their performances, featuring bouncing, handstands, and even playful gestures like blowing kisses, have delighted spectators both in stadiums and online. Due to their beak-like mouths, which resemble those of chicks, netizens have affectionately nicknamed the mascots "Greater Bay chickens."
At a Games souvenir shop in Hong Kong, displays of the mascots have attracted steady crowds of visitors eager to snap photos and take home souvenirs.
"They're so cute! I took a photo with them. The National Games are being held here, and we are very happy," said Hong Kong resident.
With their fluffy round heads and chubby bellies, the two mascots have also won the admiration of international tourists.
"And I thought they would be a lovely souvenir. And this is a lovely reminder of when we were here in Hong Kong," said an Australian tourist.
"I really like the kind of merchandising for the Games, the mascots." said an Italian tourist.
Scheduled to conclude on Friday, the Games are jointly hosted by Guangdong Province and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, marking the first time in Chinese sports history that three regions have co-hosted a major national event.
National Games mascots win hearts in Hong Kong with dolphin-inspired design
The operational efficiency of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in south China's Guangdong Province has greatly improved following the launch of a new terminal and a new runway one month ago.
The airport officially put into operation its Terminal 3 and fifth runway on October 30, making it China's first civil airport to operate five commercial runways.
Terminal 3 features a range of self-service facilities, including check-in kiosks, automated baggage drop systems, and smart security screening equipment, which have greatly streamlined passenger processing.
Since its opening, five airlines have shifted their domestic operations to Terminal 3, which now handles an average of 158 flights and about 26,000 passengers daily.
"Compared with Terminal 1, both the number of staffed counters and self-service kiosks of Terminal 3 have increased significantly, greatly reducing the average check-in time for passengers. For domestic direct flights, the entire check-in process can be completed in a minimum of one minute," said Shi Mengyao, a staffer with the ground service department of the Guangdong branch of China Eastern Airlines.
Beyond efficiency improvements, the terminal also includes an observation deck that offers travelers panoramic views of the airfield.
"Since its opening, the observation deck attracts over 3,000 visitors per day on average, with total visits exceeding 100,000 to date," said Luo Li, deputy general manager of a terminal management company at Baiyun International Airport.
The airport's expansion also marks another step toward building a world-class airport cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
"The airport's expansion not only consolidates the Greater Bay Area as an aviation hub connecting China with the world, but also helps lower logistics costs within the area, promote the free flow and efficient allocation of economic resources, and enhances the area's capacity for global resource allocation," said Li Jing, chief planner with the Guangdong Provincial Department of Transport.
New terminal, runway boost operational efficiency of airport in Guangzhou
