Australia's biggest trading partner showed the world it is indeed the Asian century by opening the Youth Olympics in Nanjing with a ceremony celebrating its hopes for the future.
As well as messages about "opening up", there were also references to ancient China with dancers dressed as blue and white porcelain from the Shang dynasty 3000 years ago.
Spectacular aerial stunts were illuminated in the darkened Olympic stadium, performed by the same shaolin martial artists from the opening ceremony at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In Nanjing on Saturday they took their moves up a level with a tower formation by 300 people on wires suspended above the field.
Designed to represent the journey of building a dream, the show of strength reflected the host nation's goal of becoming a "moderately prosperous society in all respects".
In a departure from the senior Olympics, only flag bearers marched in the opening ceremony with Australian girls' rugby sevens player Tiana Penitani carrying out the honour dressed in green and gold.
But it was straight home to bed for the 18-year-old after she completed her round of the stadium in preparation for the team's first match against Tunisia on Sunday morning.
For the team's chef de mission Susie O'Neill, this is the first opening ceremony she has been able to attend as a member of the Australian team.
The two-time Olympic swimming champion said she missed all the opening ceremonies when she was competing because she had to prepare for her events.
"I only watched the other ones from TV really," she told AAP.
"This is the first one I've been able to go to as part of the team and it was amazing."
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