The official mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympics are collectively known as "Fuwa" and they represent the five Olympic rings from which they draw their color.

The “Fuwa” was designed to express the playful qualities of five little children, four of them wearing animal costumes (the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow) and one wearing the Olympic flame.

Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name — 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”!

Beibei is the fish. She represents prosperity and harvest.

Jing Jing is the panda. He brings the blessing of happiness wherever he goes.

Huanhuan is the fire. He is the big brother symbolizing the Olympic Flame and the passion of sport.

Yingying is the Tibetan antelope. She represents vastness of China’s landscape. The antelope carries the blessing of health, the strength of body that comes from harmony with nature.

Nini is the swallow. Her golden wings symbolize the infinite sky and spread good-luck as a blessing wherever she flies.

Image Source: The Official Website of the 2008 Beijing Olympics