Two years after the spectacular success of Beijing Olympics, China dazzled the world once again today by unveiling the 16th Asian Games with a spell-binding opening ceremony. The theme was water and the main part of the ceremony was held at Hai Xinsha, an island located on China's third longest river. The four-and-a-half-hour ceremony started with trademark fireworks and the 37,000 capacity crowd was up on its feet when 1, 320 artists from the city's oldest kung fu school descended with giant LED screens in the backdrop. The mesmerisingly choreographed act had the artists performing breathtaking acrobatics while being several feet above the ground. The LED screens flashed the cityscapes and the artists formed formations to look like eagles flying through the sky. The ceremony was unique in more ways than one as it was not held in the main stadium of any multi-discipline sports spectacle as is the custom.Decorated boats, 45 in all and representing all the countries and regions taking part in the Games, set sail to the song "Happy Song All The Way along the River" with performers lining up both the banks cheering them amid drum beats and local music. The Indian athletes boarded their boat at the Taigucang Dock along with those of 13 other nations. The boats stopped at the Xidi and Tianzi Dock, where an operatic performance highlighting the Guangzhou culture took place.Ace shooter Gagan Narang — led the 671-strong delegation of Indian athletes into the arena. After the Games cauldron was lit, Guangzhou's night sky lit up by eye-catching fireworks.