Jan 13 marked the 300-day countdown to the 15th National Games, as the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Tianhe district of Guangzhou undergoes renovation.

The stadium is one of the largest and most comprehensive sports centers in the country. Over the past 23 years since its completion, it has hosted significant domestic and international events such as the 9th National Games in 2001 and the 16th Asian Games in 2010, earning it the title of the "New Eight Sights of Guangzhou".

An artist's rendering of the renovated stadium. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

Led by He Jingtang, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the stadium's renovation will be customized to embrace the distinctive characteristics of the local Lingnan region and the cultural essence of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The design elements, such as the canopy forming "fluttering ribbons", petal-shaped stands resembling "kapok flowers in full bloom", horizontal eaves representing "surging waves of the Greater Bay Area" and plaza landscapes embodying the "graceful movements of the Pearl River", are said to reflect the dynamic and vibrant spirit of the Greater Bay Area in the new era.

A view of the outdoor sports venue. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

Moreover, the design takes into account the warm and humid climate of the Lingnan region. To address this, the stadium will have its second-floor glass curtain walls removed to establish an expansive overhead sports area.

The outdoor landscape design is designed to greatly improve the shaded activity areas – incorporating an additional 39,000 square meters of green space to create more pleasant spots for residents to unwind and chill out.

The newly renovated stadium will debut as the main venue for the 15th National Games, providing support for athletics, diving and water polo events.