Asian Games Hangzhou Opens Saturday: 3 Medal Details to Watch 🥇

The 19th Asian Games open in Hangzhou on September 23. The Chinese-designed medals draw on Liangzhu culture jade motifs — a deliberate choice with takeaways for Thai event organizers.

Cultural Specificity Beats Universal Iconography

The Hangzhou medals feature Liangzhu jade patterns from a culture 5,000 years old — very specific to the host region, not pan-Asian generic. The lesson: medals that reach for universal symbols (laurel wreaths, generic stars) feel forgettable; medals tied to one specific cultural detail feel earned. For Thai regional sport events, lean into one local cultural motif rather than five generic ones.

Concentric Ring Construction Is Photogenic

The Hangzhou medals stack concentric rings of different materials and finishes — a center jade-color disc, a brushed ring, a polished outer rim. Each ring catches light differently, making the medal photograph dimensionally instead of flatly. For your next medal commission, ask the designer for at least three discrete surface zones.