A bird's-eye view of the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center venue complexes. [Photo provided by Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee]

Sept 23 marks the one-year countdown to the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022.

The Olympic Council of Asia and the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee announced on July 19 that the Games will be rescheduled to take place from Sept 23 to Oct 8, 2023.

The opening ceremony on Sept 23 next year happens to coincide with the autumn equinox, a traditional Chinese solar term that symbolizes harvest.

Prior to the countdown celebrations, the "Exciting Hangzhou" competitions have been carried out in full swing at the venues of the Asian Games.

For example, the recently-ended National Gymnastics Series Competitions, including rhythmic and trampoline gymnastics, were held at the Huanglong Sports Center gymnasium. The competitions were open to the public and tickets were sold online. The event was also broadcast via the internet, allowing people who could not be site to experience the charm of gymnastics.

In addition, as an important part of the Asian Games' promotional activities, a Fun Run was held at the Nanjing International Youth Culture Park on Sept 7. Several stops along the three-kilometer route were designed with exercises including curve running, obstacle tires, and balance beam and plank procedures to entertain the runners and to increase the passion and vitality of the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Fifty-six competition and 31 training venues of the Asian Games have been gradually opened to the public. They maximize the role of the Asian Games venues in sports competitions, national fitness, and culture and sports and fully meet the growing spiritual and cultural needs of local residents.

The "Exciting Hangzhou" National Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship is held at the Huanglong Sports Center in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, from Aug 20 to 27. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]