A technician examines the notch of a flagpole at Nantong Yaolong Metal Machine Co Ltd. [Photo/WeChat Account: wxtzfb]

The 157 flags flying outside the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar have added to the vibrant, colorful scenes of the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup. Unbeknownst to many, the flag poles were made by Nantong Yaolong Metal Machine Co Ltd, which is located in Tongzhou district in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province.

Unlike ordinary flagpoles, each of these flagpoles featured at the Qatar World Cup has a special oval-shape notch within which lies a device that sprays water. To create this notch, said Chen Buyue, president of the enterprise, the company had to rely on laser cutting robots.

The flagpoles by Yaolong have also been used at Expo 2010 Shanghai China, the 26th Summer Universiade in Shenzhen in 2011, and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.