An artistic replica of the 15th National Games torch tower was lit up at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center in Tianhe district on Feb 10, turning a symbol of athletic competition into a lasting cultural landmark.

The 11.9-meter-tall, 25-metric-ton steel sculpture was forged by 74 artisans who pieced together 2,400 core components and 13,200 intricate parts. With 2.5-mm-thick 316 stainless steel plates, the team combined 3D printing technology with traditional hand-forging techniques to create the structure.

The 15th National Games torch tower replica is a landmark of the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

The tower will anchor a planned theme park showcasing the Games mascots Xi Yangyang and Le Rongrong, lovingly nicknamed "Dawan (Greater Bay) Chicken" by netizens.

The lighting ceremony marked a new chapter in Tianhe's post-Games transformation. The Guangdong Olympic Sports Center has been refurbished with a new facade and expanded green spaces, evolving from a competition venue into a public gathering space. It is set to host 53 major concerts in 2026, establishing itself as a new entertainment destination.

The Tianhe Olympic Sports Park. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

Nearby, the Tianhe Sports Center has been upgraded into an "open sports park" and certified as a Class 1 facility by World Athletics. In the Liuyun residential community, newly painted cultural walls bring together mascots from four decades of Games history — a quiet tribute to the city's collective memory.

Tianhe is building on that momentum. A National Games theme park is taking shape around the torch tower, while projects like the Dawan Chicken Carnival are bringing new energy to the Olympic Sports Center. The initiative aims to connect the Olympic Sports Center, Tianhe Sports Center, and Tianhe Road Business Circle into a corridor for sports, entertainment, shopping, and leisure.

Visitors stream into the Dawan Chicken Carnival at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]