第十六届亚洲运动会[1]12日晚在广州隆重开幕，国务院总理[2]温家宝出席开幕式并宣布本届亚运会开幕。这是亚洲冲破国际金融危机的阴影，奋力前行的又一次启航!

这是继1990年北京举办第十一届亚运会后，亚运会20年后再次回到中国，也是中国继2008年北京奥运会之后，举办的又一次大型综合性运动会。亚奥[3]理事会主席艾哈迈德[4]亲王、国际奥委会主席罗格[5]以及来自亚洲各地的贵宾出席开幕式。

19时58分，在欢快的乐曲声中，温家宝和艾哈迈德等中外贵宾走上主席台，向观众挥手致意。20时许，开幕式由此开始。20时06分，军乐队奏响中华人民共和国[6]国歌，鲜艳的五星红旗[7]缓缓地升起。现场观众放声高唱，嘹亮的国歌声在空中回荡。

以"水"为主题的大型开幕式文艺表演《启航》正式开始。上篇《大地之水》和《海洋之舟》、中篇《白云之帆》、下篇《花城之邀》三个篇章，解释了水在岭南[8]文化中的深刻含义。

21时13分，运动员入场式开始。亚奥理事会所有45个国家和地区代表团按顺序先后入场。今后15天，来自亚洲各地的9700多名运动员将参加42个大项且476个小项的角逐。中国体育代表团由1454人组成，其中参赛选手977人，创中国历届亚运会参赛人数之最，也是本届亚运会参赛运动员最多的代表团。

22时09分，国务院总理温家宝宣布: 第十六届亚洲运动会开幕! 顿时，璀璨的焰火绽放在夜空中，激昂的旋律响彻全场，欢呼声经久不息。

The opening ceremony of the 16^th Asian Games on was held on the evening of November 12^th. State Council Prime Minister Wen Jiabao attended the opening ceremony and announced the beginning of the games. By this event, Asia is breaking out of the shadow of the international financial crisis, sparing no effort in moving on and starting a new journey!

Following the 11^th Asian Games, held in Beijing on 1990, the games are returning to China after 20 years. By this event, China is also continuing and hosting a another big comprehensive sport games again, after the 2008 Olympic Games, held in Beijing.  President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, president of the International Olympic Committee Luo Ge and and another distinguished guests from all over the continent attended the opening ceremony.

19:58, while the lively musical composition sounds were played, Wen Jiabao, Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah and others important guests from China and foreign nations walked on the platform, waving and greeting the spectators. 20:06, the military band played the national anthem of the People's Republic of China, while the gaily-colored five-starred red flag rose slowly. The spectators on the site sang in strong voices, the loud and clear national anthem reverberated in the open air.

With 'water' as the theme of the large scale artistic performances, the formal beginning was the "Start a Journey" show. First stage shows were "The Water of Earth" and "The Boats of the Oceans", mid stage shows included "A Sail of White Clouds" and last stage was "Invitation of the Flower City" , these three chapters explained and interpreted the deep meaning water has in the culture of Guangdong and Guangxi.

21:13, the march in of the athletes began. Delegations from the 45 countries and regions, which are members of the Asian Games committee, entered the stadium one after the other. In the next 15 days, more than 9700 athletes from everywhere in Asia will participate in 42 big events and 476 smaller competitions (preliminary stages). China's sport delegation if formed of 1454 members, among which 977 athletes are taking part in competitions, making it the biggest number in the history of China in the Asian Games, as well as the biggest delegation in these games.

22:09, State Council Prime Minister Wen Jiabao announced: 'The 16th Asian Games have begin!' Bright fireworks blossomed in the open air at once. An exciting music melody reverberated through the whole audience and the sound of cheers prolonged for a long while.

[1] 亚洲运动会 yàzhōu yùndònghuì - The Asian Games, an Asian multi-sport event, held almost every 4 yrs since 1951. The 16^th Asian Games are currently held in Guangzhou, China.

[2] 国务院总理 guówùyuàn zǒnglǐ- The Prime Minister of the State Council, a title which means the Prime Minister of China.

[3] 亚奥 yà ào - Short for 亚洲奥林匹克 (yàzhōu àolínpǐkè), 'Asian Olympic Games', the Asian Games.

[4] 艾哈迈德ài hā mài dé - Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, A Kuwaiti minister and president of the Olympic Council of Asia.

[5] 罗格 luō gé - Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee.

[6] 中华人民共和国 zhōnghuá rénmín gònghéguó - 'The People's Republic of China'.

[7] 五星红旗 wǔxīng hóngqí - 'The five-star red flag', the Chinese flag.

[8] 岭南 lǐng nán - 'South of the ridges', an area south of 'the five mountain ridges', peaks which are located on the borders of Guangdong and Guangxi and of Jiangxi and Hunan. This term refers mainly to Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, but some could also mention Hainan and regions of Jiangxi and Hunan when saying '岭南'.