CHENGDU, China, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- From an opening ceremony that fused cultural heritage with modern spectacles to the rich flavors of Sichuan cuisine, the Chengdu World Games are bringing people from across the globe closer.

One of the most dazzling moments of the opening ceremony on Thursday was the fireworks display of a "Tree of Friendship," inspired by the ancient tree-root relics unearthed at Chengdu's Jinsha Site and the Sichuan native dove tree. The design symbolized peace, progress and friendship.

Croatian archer Amanda Mlinaric, who hailed the tree-shaped fireworks as "the best" she had ever seen, said the ceremony left her a deep impression. "I think it's definitely Olympics-worthy, not just for the World Games," she said.

Czech Wushu athlete Jan Hoffmann was equally impressed by the torch-lighting, in which two water-skiers rode the wake of a wave-making boat to ignite a torch designed as a water-shaped spout rising from the lake.

"That's really crazy," Hoffmann said. "It's something I've never seen before."

Under the theme "Boundless Sports, Countless Wonders," the Chengdu World Games offer not only fierce competitions but also a wealth of cultural experiences -- from Chinese-language classes and Sichuan Opera face-changing shows to calligraphy and Shu brocade workshops and visits to local landmarks.

"I love pandas, they're so cute," Meeri-Marita Paas, an archer from Estonia, told Xinhua during a tour to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on Friday.

"(Seeing pandas) was definitely on the list of what I wanted to do the most in Chengdu," said Paas, also a fan of the panda celebrity Hua Hua, adding: "I've never seen pandas before and here is the perfect place for me."

The Estonian athlete also planned to sample Chengdu's famous spicy cuisine and explore the province after her events.

"I've been training for spicy food, and I'm curious to try it after my competition," she said. "I'm also going to visit some mountains, like the Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei, with my tour guide."

She was referring to Mlinaric, her fellow archer and good friend for years.

"What I really like about archery is that I can make friends with my opponents," Mlinaric said. "We don't look at each other in a bad way -- it's just my arrows against theirs. After we shoot, we're friends. We can go for coffee or have fun together. That's wonderful."

The Croatian athlete had another reason to remember the Games -- she celebrated her 24th birthday on the opening day, receiving greetings, celebrations, and gifts from archery friends and volunteers at the Athletes' Village.

"People have been so welcoming and friendly. I feel like a celebrity or a supermodel," she said with a smile.

The opening ceremony of the Chengdu World Games was held at the 430-meter-long "Tianfu Roof," the largest timber structure in Asia.

"The roof reminds us of home, which protects us from rain and storms. We want to tell our guests worldwide that we are one family under a roof," said Hu Xiao, the general director of the opening ceremony. ■