A City of Ice, Excitement, and International Sportsmanship

Harbin Gears Up for the 9th Asian Winter Games

Harbin, the "Ice City" of Northeast China, is gearing up for the 9th Asian Winter Games, which will kick off on February 7, 2025. With just one month to go, the city is buzzing with excitement as it prepares to host the largest representation of Asian countries and regions in the event's history.

Relying on its abundant winter sports facilities and experience from hosting the Games in 1996, Harbin is confidently pushing ahead with the final preparations. The city aims to cement its status as an international sports hub and winter tourism wonderland for both domestic and overseas visitors.

The 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games will see 34 national Olympic committees participating, including first-time participants Cambodia and Saudi Arabia. A total of 1,275 athletes will compete in 64 medal events across six sports, including the debut of mixed doubles curling, ski mountaineering, and synchronized freestyle skiing aerials.

All 13 competition venues, five for ice sports in downtown Harbin and eight for snow events in the Yabuli ski resort cluster, have been renovated and upgraded to meet international standards. Seven more test events will be held over the next two weeks to ensure the best possible experience for all participants.

To address the challenges of Harbin's cold weather, the city has mobilized over 40,000 sanitation workers, deployed 1,700 sets of cleaning machinery, and prepared over 4,000 metric tons of eco-friendly snow-melting agent. The primary objective is to keep main roads and transport hubs near the competition venues clean and dry even during heavy snowfall.

The highly anticipated opening ceremony has been rehearsed under the guidance of Chief Director Sha Xiaolan, who was also responsible for the acclaimed opening and closing ceremonies of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. The ceremony will take place at the Main Media Center and is expected to showcase the Chinese spirit and promote a harmonious Asian community with a shared future.