Zhang Wen (right) and Yang Yihong (left), designers of the official mascots for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, pose with their concept art. [Photo/hangzhou2022.cn]

"We hope the mascots will be seen as three Hangzhou citizens who, along with us, are opening their arms to the world", said Zhang Wen and Yang Yihong, designers of the official mascots for the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province.

The three mascots, named Congcong, Lianlian, and Chenchen, were officially unveiled on April 3. Behind the three robot-shaped figures were dozens of sheets of concept art and notes.

A total of 4,633 submissions were collected from around the world between the time the organizing committee first started soliciting designs for official mascots in April 2019 and the following August.

Designers work on the mascots. [Photo/hangzhou2022.cn]

A committee of 11 art and design experts was set up to review all the submitted designs.

Song Jianming, design director for the Hangzhou Asian Games, said the mascots should be creative and amiable. Moreover, designers should also consider making them 3D and their market appeal, the director noted.

A design entitled "Memories of Jiangnan", submitted by Zhang and Yang, two teachers at the Hangzhou-based China Academy of Art, was ultimately selected.

Every detail of the design was reviewed and adjusted by experts more than 30 times.

On Dec 6, 2019, the final design of the mascots was approved by the General Administration of Sport of China. A month later, the robot triplets were praised by the Olympic Council of Asia and officially selected as the mascots.

The designers said that the three mascots are supposed to represent the three UNESCO World Heritage items in Hangzhou while also feeling like real citizens. "We hope they will bring joy to the city and people here, and help welcome foreign visitors," said Zhang and Yang, adding that the mascots embody their love for Hangzhou.