Changchun 2027 Winter Universiade flame welcomed at ceremony

The welcome ceremony for the flame for the Changchun 2027 Winter Universiade was held Wednesday morning at the Changchun History and Culture Museum in Jilin province.

The flame was lit last week on Thursday in Turin, Italy, where the first Universiade was hosted in 1959.

At the ceremony, the flame was passed from hand to hand by 12 Changchun residents. The dozen torchbearers witnessed the lighting of the first torch of the Games, named "Ji Xiang", and the Games cauldron.

Ji Xiang translates to Auspicious Flight. The torch is inspired by the clivia, a flowering plant that serves as Changchun's city flower. Its upper section features a filmstrip motif, a nod to Changchun's film history, and 12 icons representing the Games' winter sports.

With the welcome ceremony concluded, the city says it is ready to welcome student-athletes from around the world. Changchun is now inside the 100-day countdown for the Games, which are set to begin on Jan 15.