Exhibition celebrates inspiration behind Chengdu World Games mascots

An exhibition opened in the Sichuan provincial capital on Friday to celebrate the ecological inspirations behind the mascots of the upcoming Chengdu World Games.

The event highlights the giant panda and golden snub-nosed monkey, the endangered species that inspired the designs for the sporting gala's mascots.

Organized by the Chengdu World Games executive committee, the exhibition presents a diverse collection, including photography, stamp collections, poetry, calligraphy and paintings, cultural creative products, and artistic installations. Many of the works focus on the two iconic animal species that served as prototypes for the mascots, named Shu Bao (the giant panda) and Jin Zai (the golden snub-nosed monkey).

The mascots for the Chengdu games were intentionally designed using these two flagship species to promote biodiversity conservation.

As an official supplier of the Chengdu World Games, renowned Chinese liquor brand Wuliangye also sponsors the exhibition. Meanwhile, the exhibition showcases the local liquor brand's traditional distilling techniques and time-honored cultural essence, bridging the event's ecological themes with cultural preservation.

"Through multiple themed sections, we integrate artistic interpretations of these animals with traditional Chinese aesthetics and the philosophy of harmony between humans and nature," explains Xue Kang, the exhibition's curator.