The 13th Guangzhou Friendship Games opening ceremony is held in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, on Oct 26. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 13th Guangzhou Friendship Games kicked off on Oct 26 in Guangzhou, the bustling capital city of South China's Guangdong province, drawing over 1,000 participants from 59 countries and regions who will engage in six sporting events over two days.

Since its inception in 1998, the friendship-oriented gathering has served as a pivotal platform for fostering exchange, deepening friendship, and showcasing talent among Guangzhou residents and the international community.

In addition to its traditional focus, this year's edition is especially significant as the one-year countdown to the 15th National Games. Various thematic activities have been meticulously curated to mark the occasion, including the eight-section brocade, a popular Chinese qigong exercise, a spirited ball relay, unique table tennis matches, and an engaging shuttlecock challenge.