The flame for the 9th Asian Winter Games was lit Monday at the Sun Island Scenic Area in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, marking the start of an 18-day countdown to the event.

Harbin, which previously hosted the Games in 1996, will hold the event from Feb 7 to 14, leveraging its extensive winter sports facilities and experience from nearly three decades ago.

The tradition of flame collection, an important ritual with roots in the Olympic Games of ancient Greece, represents the inheritance of the Olympic spirit and symbolizes light, peace and unity.

During the ceremony, nine envoys, walking in procession, successfully lit the flame on a torch in front of the Sun Stone, a landmark of the scenic area.

"The flame is collected from the sun," said Wang Zheng, chief director of the ceremony. "The ceremony emphasizes harmony between humans and nature."

Wang said the stage design focused on respecting the natural environment while showcasing Harbin's unique ice and snow culture. An ice sculpture of a rolling mountain surrounding the Sun Stone symbolized the belief that "ice and snow can be treasures".

The nine female envoys, representing youth and responsibility in the new era, were selected from universities across Heilongjiang. They underwent more than a month of training, including lessons on etiquette, physical preparation and operation of the flame collection device, Wang said.

The Games' torch, designed in the shape of a blossoming lilac, stands 735 millimeters tall, with a crown diameter of 115 mm and a grip diameter of 50 mm. It incorporates the colors of China red, lilac purple and snow white, while its combustion chamber features a cutout snowflake pattern.

When ignited, the torch presents a merging effect of ice and fire, symbolizing the passion and brilliance of winter sports. The "surging" design theme embodies the energy of nature, reflecting the vibrancy and passion of the Games.

This year's Games will see the largest representation of Asian countries and regions in history, with 34 national Olympic committees confirming their participation.

A total of 64 medal events across six sports will take place at five ice sports venues in downtown Harbin and eight snow sports venues in Yabuli, a ski resort cluster about 200 kilometers southeast of the city.