Chengdu World Games Photo: VCG

The torch relay for the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province will take place on July 26 - the first one in the event's history. On Wednesday, the torch named Zhumeng (literally "Bamboo Dream" in Chinese, which also sounds like "chasing dreams"), along with its supporting components such as the flame lantern, flame collection rod, and cauldron, was unveiled in Chengdu.

The torch and its components incorporate characteristics from artifacts of the Baodun, Sanxingdui and Twelve Bridges periods, showcasing the continuity and uniqueness of Chengdu's historical and cultural heritage, according to CCTV News.

"The torch set combines elements of ancient Shu civilization with modern technology and will innovatively use a low-carbon energy conversion method, from solar to electric to flame, to ignite the light of the World Games," Wang Jiaxin, an official from TWG 2025 Chengdu, told the Global Times on Thursday.

The flame collection device is shaped like a tender bamboo shoot, using the organic form of a plant to symbolize openness and inclusiveness, Wang said.

According to Wang, the torch's design draws inspirations from the ancient Grand Bronze Standing Figure, resembling both the towering figure and a bamboo shoot standing proudly.

The flame lantern for the Chengdu World Games stands 38 centimeters tall, and its design echoes the upper part of the torch. It ingeniously combines the bronze bell with sun patterns from the Sanxingdui Ruins site and the Golden Sun Bird, both ancient symbols from Sichuan. This design not only reinforces the symbolic role of the lantern in passing on the "flame," but also reflects a collective yearning for light, vitality and the endless cycle of life, according to the China News Service.

The flame collection rod features a silver body inlaid with the fingerprint of a person who lived 4,500 years ago that was preserved on a pottery shard unearthed from the Baodun site. This design element represents a dialogue between past and present. The ancient Chinese fingerprint overlaps with those of people from all over the world today, symbolizing a shared flame, shared hope, and a shared dream, according to the People's ­Daily Online.

"The design of the Chengdu World Games torch and its related components integrates many cultural elements from the Sichuan Basin and the Chengdu Plain," Tang Miao, academic director and associate research fellow at the Baodun Site Museum, told media.

According to Tang, the design brings together culture and sports, culture and humanity, to tell the story of the region's rich history, present-day vitality and future potential.

"By incorporating relics from Sanxingdui and Baodun, the designers have created more than just ceremonial objects - they've built a bridge across millennia. It shows how ancient civilizations continue to speak to us and even guide our modern aspirations." Wang Deyan, a professor at the School of Liberal Arts and Law at the North China University of Technology, told the Global Times.

"That fingerprint reminds us that, while times change, the human spirit - the desire to create, to hope, to seek the light remains the same," he added.

The base of the torch is designed with elements of a bronze mythical beast that was traditionally regarded as a guardian figure to ward off evil and protect peace. It symbolizes the safe and smooth progress of the torch relay, while also conveying wishes for the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.

In terms of color, the torch packaging box features a gradient design that transitions from green to silver. 

Green symbolizes the foundational color of the world and reflects China's advocacy for harmony between humanity and nature. It also aligns with the Chengdu World Games' commitment to eco-friendly, low-carbon principles - a concept vividly embodied in Chengdu's vision to be a "park city," where greenery is visible just outside one's window and naturally integrates with the dynamic energy of World Games events. Silver, on the other hand, represents technology and innovation, as well as speed and momentum, according to the People's Daily Online.

The torch relay will take place in three cities: Chengdu, Deyang and Meishan, covering a total distance of 11 kilometers.

On July 26, a flame-lighting and relay launch ceremony will be held at the Sanxingdui Museum. The torch will then be passed in segments across five landmark locations with a total of 120 torchbearers participating in the relay.