Designed to resemble an ancient Chinese scroll and featuring the “lucky cloud,” the red and silver torch for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games settled the debate over whether to foreground Chinese traditional or modern elements by incorporating both.

Lucky clouds, or auspicious clouds, are commonly used in Chinese mythology, with deities often perched on the top. Chinese people expect the auspicious clouds to bring blessings and harmony to the society.

The lucky cloud is a symbol of traditional Chinese culture that is rooted in the everyday lives of Chinese people. It can be seen in many things from sculptures to architecture to utensils, and to furniture.

Choosing the scroll shape for the torch also embodies the profound Chinese civilization. The Lenovo designers came up with the idea when a colleague rolled up a piece of paper casually at a meeting and it naturally resembled the shape of a perfect torch!

Paper is one of the four great inventions in ancient China that was spread to the rest of the world along the ancient Silk Road. Since the planned torch relay route borrowed the idea of the Silk Road, the idea of scroll-shaped torch is perfect!

The torch is the first in the history of the Olympics to bear the color red. Red is the classic color people associate with China. Carving red lucky clouds on a silver base suggests a combination of ancient China and the modern world.

The torch of the Beijing Olympic Games has a very strong Chinese flavor. It demonstrates the artistic and technical level of China. The shape of the paper scroll and the lucky clouds graphic, expresses the idea of harmony.