Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, the Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.
Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, the Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame.
Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.
When you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.
The Fuwa also embody both the landscape, the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.
Spreading Traditional Chinese Good Wishes Wherever They Go
In the ancient culture of China, there is a grand tradition of spreading good wishes through signs and symbols. Each of the Fuwa symbolizes a different blessing -- and will honor this tradition by carrying their good wishes to the children of the world. Prosperity, happiness, passion, health and good luck will be spread to every continent as Fuwa carry their invitation to Beijing 2008 to every part of the globe.
At the heart of their mission -- and through all of their work -- Fuwa will seek to unite the world in peace and friendship through the Olympic spirit. Dedicated to helping Beijing 2008 spread its theme of One World, One Dream to every continent, the Fuwa reflect the deep desire of the Chinese people to reach out to the world in friendship through the Games -- and to invite every man, woman and child to take part in the great celebration of human solidarity that China will host in the lighting of the flame in 2008.
福娃是北京2008年第29届奥运会吉祥物,其色彩与灵感来源于奥林匹克五环、来源于中国辽阔的山川大地、江河湖海和人们喜爱的动物形象。福娃向世界各地的孩子们传递友谊、和平、积极进取的精神和人与自然和谐相处的美好愿望。
福娃是五个可爱的亲密小伙伴,他们的造型融入了鱼、大熊猫、藏羚羊、燕子以及奥林匹克圣火的形象。
每个娃娃都有一个琅琅上口的名字:“贝贝”、“晶晶”、“欢欢”、“迎迎”和“妮妮”,在中国,叠音名字是对孩子表达喜爱的一种传统方式。当把五个娃娃的名字连在一起,你会读出北京对世界的盛情邀请“北京欢迎你”。
福娃代表了梦想以及中国人民的渴望。他们的原型和头饰蕴含着其与海洋、森林、圣火、大地和天空的联系,其形象设计应用了中国传统艺术的表现方式,展现了中国的灿烂文化。
将祝福带往世界各个角落
很久以来,中国就有通过符号传递祝福的传统。北京奥运会吉祥物的每个娃娃都代表着一个美好的祝愿:繁荣、欢乐、激情、健康与好运。娃娃们带着北京的盛情,将祝福带往世界各个角落,邀请各国人民共聚北京,欢庆2008奥运盛典。
In China's traditional culture and art, the fish and water designs are symbols of prosperity and harvest. And so Beibei carries the blessing of prosperity. A fish is also a symbol of surplus in Chinese culture, another measure of a good year and a good life.
The ornamental lines of the water-wave designs are taken from well-known Chinese paintings of the past. Among Fuwa, Beibei is known to be gentle and pure. Strong in water sports, she reflects the blue Olympic ring.

贝贝传递的祝福是繁荣。在中国传统文化艺术中, “鱼” 和 “水” 的图案是繁荣与收获的象征,人们用“鲤鱼跳龙门”寓意事业有成和梦想的实现,“鱼”还有吉庆有余、年年有余的蕴涵。
贝贝的头部纹饰使用了中国新石器时代的鱼纹图案。贝贝温柔纯洁,是水上运动的高手,和奥林匹克五环中的蓝环相互辉映。