Low-carbon Asian Games flame: Chinese firm uses water mist and lighting to cut emissions

The 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya opened with a cauldron that burns no fuel. Zhejiang Dafeng Industry designed a flame-like effect using water mist and precision lighting, cutting more than 200 metric tons of carbon emissions over the 16-day event. The company also led the entire opening ceremony, marking the first time a Chinese firm acted as chief architect for an Asian Games ceremony. Dafeng's heart-shaped cauldron was tested with digital simulations for wind, seismic response, and lighting under real weather conditions. The AI-assisted design process shortened a month of work to a week. This project shows how large-scale events can reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing spectacle, building on Dafeng's prior work for the Olympics and Hangzhou Asian Games.