With unity across regions celebrated along with athletic prowess, China’s National Games have capped off a memorable edition with profound legacies, on and off the field of play, boosting integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

After two weeks of intense competition and an extensive display of southern China’s culture, the country’s biggest quadrennial sporting gala bid farewell to its participants in a virtually stunning ceremony on Friday in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, leaving the crowd excited about the future prospects of closer GBA teamwork in hosting more major events.

ALSO READ: HK fans looking ahead to more events as excitement of National Games lingers

The open-air closing ceremony, which took place at the waterfront theater at Shenzhen’s OH Bay, featured a variety of art performances celebrating sporting achievements, cultural diversity and the close bonds between the host areas, enhanced by dazzling audiovisual effects, on a water-covered stage set against an illuminating backdrop of the city’s urban night view.

As the first edition jointly held by Guangdong and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, the success of the multi-sports event is a compelling testament to the significance of the “one country, two systems” policy, said officials and participants.

China Daily's Andy Chong took the photos on Friday.