Directed by the renowned Zhang Yimou, who was also at the helm for the 2008 opening and closing ceremonies, the spectacle featured around 3,000 performers, the vast majority of whom were teenagers.

After dignitaries including Chinese leader Xi and IOC president Thomas Bach had been welcomed to their seats, the start of the ceremony focused on giant digital displays spread across the floor in the center of the stadium in which participants waved giant LED sticks.

An early flurry of fireworks exploded into the Beijing night sky before the Chinese flag was brought into the arena and proudly being hoisted to the strains of the national anthem.

The glittering digital display continued as the ceremony paid tribute to past editions of the Winter Games, before the Olympic rings emerged from a block of ice.

A giant, luminous version of Beijing mascot Bing Dwen Dwen also appeared among participants clad in colorful attire.

The athletes themselves soon began to emerge, traditionally led by Greece as the birthplace of the Olympics.