Chinese numerals
The welcoming ceremony began by a flame and an ancient Chinese sundial, awakened by the light of time from the sky, lights up 2008 bronze Fou drums. The drums, running like a time machine, form giant digits (in both Hindu–Arabic and Chinese numerals) to count down the seconds to the Games. The digits is formed in ten-second intervals starting from sixty before switching over to the final ten seconds. At the end, a huge fireworks display is set off from the top of the stadium.