The flame for the Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games was lit at the Sun Island Scenic Area on Monday, with 18 days to go before the opening of the Games.

The flame was lit at 11:14 am local time after a brief ceremony opened by a choir of 90 children.

The flame is displayed after being lit during the flame lighting ceremony for the Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games at the Sun Island Scenic Area in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

The torch, measuring 735mm in height, features a top diameter of 115mm and a grip diameter of 50mm. Its design, themed "Surging," is inspired by the dynamic energy of nature and life. The design takes the form of a blossoming lilac, integrating colors such as China Red, Lilac Purple, and Snow White, symbolizing the sincerity, warmth, openness, and inclusivity of Heilongjiang Province and the characteristics of the host city, Harbin.

Wang Zheng, the chief director of the ceremony, introduced that the whole event emphasized the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. The stage design was centered around respecting nature, blending the icy landscapes with rich cultural charm.

The event saw the launch of an online torch relay on the same day, which allows more people to take part in this grand sports and cultural event regardless time and space. The offline torch relay will start on Feb. 3.

The capital city of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Harbin will host the Games for the second time from Feb. 7 to 14, having previously hosted the event's third edition in 1996.

According to the recently released competition schedule, ice hockey and curling events will begin earlier, on Feb. 3 and 4, respectively, with the overall schedule spanning 12 days.