In 2007, at just 10 years old, Gao Tingyu first stepped onto the Speed Skating Oval at the Heilongjiang Ice Training Center in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province. He was immediately impressed by the indoor international-standard 400-meter track.

Prior to this, Gao had only ever trained on outdoor rinks in his hometown of Yichun, where tracks were typically only 100 to 200 meters long. In winter, they would skate on a track etched into a coal slag-covered field that had frozen over.

Over the years, the Harbin ice rink became pivotal for Gao's training, and a regular competition venue. As Gao watched the rink undergo continuous upgrades, he also enjoyed his rise to Olympic champion status.

Now, after returning to the venue for the Asian Winter Games, Gao expressed a renewed appreciation for the facility. "The improvements to the venue, including temperature, humidity, and ice quality, are remarkable," he said. "It's been transformed into a world-class facility."

Competing in front of a home crowd, Gao won three gold medals at this year's Asian Winter Games, further boosting his experience and confidence ahead of next year's Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

At the opening ceremony of the Asian Winter Games, Gao proudly led the Chinese delegation as its flag bearer. The following day, he claimed the gold in the men's 100m speed skating, finishing the first day of competition on a high.

Two days later, Gao successfully defended his men's 500m title, before teaming up with his fellow skaters to win gold in the men's team sprint.

However, after his men's 500m victory, Gao was seen vomiting. The sight quickly went viral on Weibo, with fans expressing concern over the image of him clutching a trash bin.

"The pressure was immense, especially mentally," Gao admitted. "I might have pushed too hard, the intensity was overwhelming."

In the men's 500m race, Gao faced off against Japanese speed skater Wataru Morishige, who had claimed bronze in the event at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Morishige posted an impressive time of 34.97 seconds in the 11th group, piling further pressure on Gao.

"Seeing his time, my heart skipped a beat, but when I stood on the starting line, I was confident I wouldn't lose to him," Gao recalled. With a time of 34.95 seconds, Gao triumphed by the slimmest of margins.

Later, in the men's team sprint, Gao partnered with Ning Zhongyan and Lian Ziwen to secure gold. As the trio stepped onto the podium, the crowd erupted in applause.

"I'm not sure if this will be my last Asian Winter Games. I don't want it to be, but I didn't want to leave with any regrets," Gao said, his eyes misting with emotion.

At the previous Asian Winter Games, the Chinese speed skating team secured just one gold medal — Gao's victory in the men's 500m. This year, however, the team brought home an impressive 11 golds.

With intense, back-to-back races, Gao's performance was a standout among Team China's speedsters in Harbin.

Having experienced this journey firsthand, Gao attributes the team's remarkable progress to scientific training methods. "In the past, I was on my own, but now I have a strong support system. My key word for this year's Games is effort. With everyone working together, Chinese speed skating will continue to improve," he said.

One of Gao's coaches, Liu Guanghui, emphasized that the Asian Winter Games tested the team's preparation, and this year's performance reached an ideal level.

"I'm extremely proud of Gao's performance," Liu remarked.

Liu's brother, Liu Guangbin, is also part of Gao's coaching team. Together, the brothers have supported Gao for 13 years.

"Seeing him standing on the top step of the podium, the greatest feeling is that all these years of hard work have paid off," Liu Guanghui told Xinhua News Agency.

"As coaches, we provide direction and support, but the real effort comes from the athletes. Gao has faced numerous injuries over the past two years, but he has continued to train relentlessly. His perseverance is truly inspiring.

"Our ultimate goal is the Winter Olympics. With a long preparation period ahead, we're fully committed to giving our best."

Gao joined the Chinese national speed skating team in 2016 and gained recognition at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, winning the bronze in the men's 500m — a first medal for China in the event.

Despite setbacks, including a back injury and a dip in form during the Beijing Olympics cycle, Gao made a strong comeback.

In 2022, he served as the flag bearer for China and broke the Olympic record in the men's 500m, winning China's first-ever Olympic gold in the event.

The Asian Winter Games were an intense challenge, but Gao found the joy of competing outweighed the struggle.

Almost immediately after the final race, he and his teammates jetted off to Europe to compete on the ISU World Tour circuit, with an eye on achieving even greater success at next year's Olympics.

Factfile

Name: Gao Tingyu

Age: 27

Height: 181 centimeters

Birthplace: Yichun, Heilongjiang province

Sport: Speed skating

Achievements:

2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games: Gold in 100m, 500m, and team sprint;

2022 Beijing Winter Olympics: 500m gold

2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics: 500m bronze

2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games: 500m gold

When the Asian Winter Games were last held in Heilongjiang provincial capital of Harbin in 1996, Han Cong — then just a toddler — had no idea that his hometown would again host the event, and that he would figure so prominently in that encore.

Though the 32-year-old, Beijing Winter Olympics gold medalist was not competing, his presence was still felt. Han served as a guardian of the national flag during the opening ceremony, watched the Chinese team competing at short-track speed skating events, and participated in a range of activities promoting sportsmanship.

Reflecting on his journey, Han shared at Harbin Ice and Snow World: "From the ice rinks of my hometown to Olympic arenas, my love for the sport has always driven me to face challenges, embrace adversity and chase my dreams."

Though he's no stranger to the spotlight, Han admitted that being a flag guardian at this year's Asian Winter Games in his hometown was a special honor. "It's a moment I will never forget," he said. "It's such a proud feeling to see my hometown hosting an event of this magnitude."

Watching the athletes from the stands, Han revealed, was an experience he found more nerve-wracking than competing himself. "Watching Lin Xiaojun fight for the gold, my heart was racing with him," Han recalled. "The difference between being an athlete and a spectator is profound."

As an athlete, Han once focused solely on winning the gold. "I always carried the mission of bringing home the medal," he said. "But now, as a spectator, my hope is that each athlete can perform at their best and achieve the success they deserve."

After claiming gold at Beijing 2022, Han announced a year later that, due to injuries and physical limitations, he would not return to the ice competitively, and would withdraw from all events in the 2026 Winter Olympics cycle. In the same year, he took on a new role at Tsinghua University, where he now teaches ice skating and figure skating.

Drawing on his years of experience as an athlete, Han has shared his insights on sportsmanship with his students. "When students encounter setbacks or challenges in life, I hope they can relate to the process of me getting up after each fall — each time it's a different experience, a transformation," he explained.

With his career shift, Han has focused more on promoting the development of winter sports. "Whether I'm involved with international organizations or teaching, my focus is on advancing and popularizing winter sports. It's not just a promise — it's about taking concrete steps to make it happen," he said.

Han has seen remarkable progress in winter sports development in the past two years, particularly in Northeast China and across the country. "I'm seeing more children, accompanied by their parents, coming to experience the joy of ice and snow. The resources available are improving, with better facilities, quality ice rinks and optimal conditions, like lighting and temperature," he said.

He also pointed out that many universities and high schools now have ice rinks, offering students the chance to enjoy ice skating.

"I've asked my students how they feel about skating, and they tell me it's unlike anything on land. They experience the thrill of speed, even if they're not skating fast. But the joy they get from being on the ice is immense," Han said.

"Winter sports require intense focus, while also improving balance and foot control, which benefits overall fitness. Not only does it help with weight loss, but it also strengthens the body," he added.

For Han, skating brings a sense of rejuvenation, regardless of age. "The ice rink and snow fields have a refreshing effect. When you're enjoying yourself, dopamine is released, and you start to feel like you're still capable of performing in sports. It makes you feel young — not just in mind, but physically as well," he said.

Factfile

Name:Han Cong

Age:32

Height:170 centimeters

Birthplace:Harbin, Heilongjiang province

Sport:Figure skating, pairs

Achievements:

2022 Beijing Winter Olympics: Gold

World Figure Skating Championships in 2017 and 2019: Gold

2014 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships: Gold

Dalian Bingshan Group provided top-quality refrigeration equipment and high-standard technical services for three ice sports venues during the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, from Feb 7 to 14.

"We have continuously iterated and upgraded equipment like ice-making units. Compared to serving the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, our products have seen significant improvements in compactness, energy efficiency and control systems," stated Li Shuang, an expert from Bingshan Group, which is based in Dalian, Liaoning province.

Li explained that the company's direct refrigeration ice-making units allow the refrigerant to directly cool the ice surface, which separates them from commonly used secondary refrigeration ice-making units.

"Under matching conditions, our units can reduce energy consumption by 15 to 20 percent," he said.

Moreover, this technology ensures better uniformity in ice surface temperature and hardness, providing a more stable playing surface for athletes, he added.

With a history spanning 95 years, the company is a leading enterprise in China's refrigeration and air conditioning industry.

It constructed the country's first artificial ice sports venue in 1968 and was involved in projects like the Ice Cube for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the Wukesong sports center.

In 2023, Bingshan Group upgraded the ice rink technology used during the Winter Olympics and constructed China's first zero-carbon ice rink, the Bingxiong ice sports center in Shahekou district, Dalian.

It demonstrated the application of energy-saving technologies such as a 60 percent energy-saving five-in-one cold and heat comprehensive utilization technology and rooftop photovoltaic power generation technology.

HARBIN - Premier Li Qiang on Saturday stressed stepping up the development of winter sports and related industries to create new opportunities for service consumption and a new growth driver for the economy.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his inspection tour to northeast China's Heilongjiang province.

He highlighted the need to utilize distinctive advantageous resources, enrich the supply of quality products, stimulate the vitality of the winter economy, and continuously improve the well-being of the people.

While visiting the Harbin Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival, Li said it was necessary to further tap into local resources to build snow and ice venues accessible to the public and create more engaging and entertaining winter activities.

He urged the province to continue to develop new consumption scenarios and new forms of business, expand and improve service consumption, and leverage its distinctive advantages to strengthen development.

The premier then visited a local ice sports center. Noting that the recently concluded 9th Asian Winter Games has further fueled public enthusiasm for winter sports, he called for efforts to leverage this opportunity to further promote mass participation in winter activities and develop industries related to winter sports equipment.

While talking with designers at a local company engaged in culture and tourism, Li said more work should be done to continuously increase the appeal of ice and snow cultural products, reinforce the principal role of enterprises in innovation to create more products and services, and strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in the sector.

With Asia's growing presence on the ice and snow celebrated and the host's organizational expertise applauded again, the 9th Asian Winter Games ended on Friday in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

Premier Li Qiang and foreign dignitaries including Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown and Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene attended the closing ceremony.

Three years after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics reshaped the winter sports landscape in China, the successful hosting of the 9th Winter Asiad has built on the legacy to further expand the thrills and chills into uncharted territories — from Asia's hot and humid southeastern islands to its dry and sizzling deserts in the west.

The largest-scale Winter Asiad in history — attracting a record 1,275 athletes from 34 nations and regions to the provincial capital — has seen nine countries and regions appear on the overall medal table, making the 2025 edition the most evenly contested Winter Asiad since the inaugural Games in 1986.

The debuts of Cambodia and Saudi Arabia, the first Winter Asiad medal won by Thailand (men's freeski slopestyle) and the first gold medal won by the Philippines (men's curling), among many other highlights, have served as a strong testament to the increasing involvement of Asian countries and regions in winter sports.

"I think my colleague and I will agree that this could be the most successful Winter Asian Games. And what the Games do actually is that they not only improve elite performances, but it actually becomes a catalyst for the development (of winter sports across Asia)," Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, first vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, said before the closing ceremony on Friday.

"We have a lot more young athletes from the south and west (of Asia) taking part (than at earlier editions), we have countries in the desert sending teams … and this is how we reach the goal of development," said Husain Al Musallam, director-general of the OCA.

With an emotional closing ceremony bringing the curtain down on Friday night, winter sports' once unimaginable expansion in Asia will usher in an exciting future with Saudi Arabia picking up the baton from Harbin to host the 2029 edition as the first Arab nation, and first from West Asia, to do so.

From the traditional winter wonderland of Harbin to the ambitious alpine projects to take shape in Saudi Arabia's Trojena mountain cluster, the Games' progression speaks volumes for the surging interest in winter sports and these events' potential in bringing economic and social benefits for the host.

"We are preparing a big surprise for everyone at Trojena in four years time," Ahmed Bin Dhuwayhi, chief of the Saudi Arabia delegation, said in Harbin.

"Saudi Arabia has a series of cooperation projects going on with China, such as in education, culture and sports. We have a lot to learn from the Chinese hosts, without any doubt, in winter sports organization."

Preparing for the Games on a tighter-than-normal schedule, Harbin, which was confirmed host of the 2025 edition only 18 months in advance, pulled off almost a mission impossible to prepare five competition venues in the city's downtown, for ice sports, and eight courses at the Yabuli Ski Resort, 200 kilometers from the city center, for all the snow events, all of which are up to the highest possible standards.

The venues are all existing facilities, with some rinks and slopes having staged respective events at the 1996 edition, which was also hosted by Harbin, while China's proven professionalism and know-how in organizing multi-sports mega events, such as Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, have guaranteed smooth and efficient operations in Harbin.

"Harbin took over in a very short time, and the organizers have done extensive work," said Sultan Al Busaidi, chair of the OCA's medical committee.

With less than a year to go before the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics open in Italy, Harbin 2025 has also offered Asia's ambitious medal contenders an invaluable "dress rehearsal".

The inclusion of ski mountaineering as a new Olympic discipline in Harbin 2025's program, in particular, has helped young aspirants gauge their strength and adjust their pace as they look to scale the heights at its Olympic debut in Italy.

"Within Asia, the Chinese team is among the strongest in ski mountaineering, but there is still a gap compared to European powerhouses. We look forward to testing ourselves against them on the Olympic stage," said Chinese skier Buluer, winner of the men's sprint on Sunday.

The warmth of the Chinese hosts and the breathtaking scenes in the "Ice City" of Harbin have also left visitors highly impressed.

Ahmed Al Shaya, coach of Kuwait's curling team, said: "It (Harbin) exceeded our expectations... It's a great city, very welcoming. I like the people, I like the volunteers, they're doing a great job."

HARBIN -- Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, first vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), declared the 9th Asian Winter Games closed at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Center on Friday night.

"This is truly a unique and charming part of China and the world - not only for the beauty of the city and the landscape but also for the warmth and friendliness of the local people," Fok said in his speech during the closing ceremony.

The Games, officially opened on Feb 7, showcased over 1,200 athletes from 34 countries and regions across Asia, making this edition the largest in terms of participating delegations and athletes.

On the final day of competition, the Philippines claimed its first-ever gold medal in Asian Winter Games history by defeating South Korea 5-3 in the men's curling final, while China beat Hong Kong, China 10-3 to secure the bronze. In the women's curling final, South Korea won over China 7-2, with Japan taking the bronze.

In ice hockey, Kazakhstan and Japan defended the men's and women's titles, respectively, on Friday.

China topped the medal tally with 32 gold, 27 silver, and 26 bronze medals, followed by South Korea with 16 gold, 15 silver, and 14 bronze medals. Japan ranked third with 10 gold, 12 silver, and 15 bronze medals.

The host nation tied the record for the most gold medals set by Kazakhstan at the 7th Asian Winter Games in Astana-Almaty in 2011.

Harbin has embraced the Winter Asiad for the second time, having hosted the third edition 29 years ago. In 2007, China also hosted the 6th edition of the Games in Changchun.

The 2029 Asian Winter Games will be held in Trojena, Saudi Arabia, marking the first time the event is hosted in West Asia.

HARBIN -- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Vice President Yang Yang and Director General Olivier Niggli spoke highly of the Harbin Asian Winter Games' anti-doping education, particularly for young athletes, ahead of the tournament's closure on Friday night.

The Games' anti-doping education area has been open for visitors since February 6, and was designed to help athletes learn about anti-doping in a relaxed atmosphere.

"The anti-doping education area was gorgeous and attractive to young athletes. We will learn from the experience in Harbin and promote the education projects of WADA," said Yang.

Niggli added, "Anti-doping is not just about testing or punishing. It is equally important to prevent. Many athletes had a test for the first time at the Harbin Asian Winter Games, so the event is a very good opportunity to educate."

The OCA authorized the International Testing Agency (ITA) to conduct testing, while the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) took charge of collecting samples and sending them to the testing laboratory in Beijing.

According to sporting event tradition, WADA acts as an independent observer to oversee anti-doping testing activities during the Games. "WADA's main responsibility is to coordinate the anti-doping efforts worldwide, setting standards and policies," Yang added.

"Anti-doping testing is a key approach to ensure justice in sports, and the fairness of testing itself should also be emphasized," Yang said. "In specific, the number of athletes' samples from various teams should be balanced, which is an important manifestation of fairness."

With Asia's growing presence on ice and snow celebrated, and the host's organizational expertise applauded again, the Harbin Asian Winter Games will go down in history as a game-changer on all fronts.

Three years after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics reshaped the winter sports landscape in China, the successful hosting of the 9th Winter Asiad in the Heilongjiang provincial capital has built on that legacy, further expanding the thrills and chills into uncharted territories — from Asia's hot and humid southeastern islands to its dry and sizzling deserts in the west.

The largest-scale Winter Asiad in history — attracting a record 1,275 athletes from 34 nations and regions to Harbin — has seen eight countries and regions appear on the overall medal table as of Thursday, tying with the 2011 edition as the most evenly-contested Winter Asiad since the inaugural edition in 1986.

The debuts of Cambodia and Saudi Arabia, the first Winter Asiad medal won by Thailand (men's freeski slopestyle) and the first Indian contingent to contest the speed skating team events (men's team spring and team pursuit),among many other highlights, have served as a strong testament to the increasing involvement of Asian countries and regions in winter sports.

"We have a lot more young athletes from the south and west (of Asia) taking part (than at earlier editions), we have countries in the desert sending teams ... and this is how we reach the goal of development," Husain Al Musallam, director-general of the Olympic Council of Asia, said during the Harbin Games.

"We need to engage with more youth, attracting them to try winter sports, even though their countries' climate might not necessarily suit winter sports.

"That's why we've seen the(record) number of athletes here, and that's how we improve not only the participation, but also their standards."

With an emotional closing ceremony set to bring the curtain down on Friday night, winter sports' previously unimaginable expansion in Asia will usher in an exciting future, as Saudi Arabia picks up the baton from Harbin, becoming, in four years' time, the first Arab nation — and first from western Asia — to host the Winter Asiad.

The journey from the traditional winter wonderland of Harbin to the ambitious alpine project taking shape in Saudi's Trojena mountain cluster speaks volumes for the surging interest in winter sports and the potential of these events in delivering economic and social benefits for the host.

"We are preparing a big surprise for everyone at Trojena in four years time," Ahmed Bin Dhuwayhi, chief of the Saudi Arabia delegation, said in Harbin.

"Saudi Arabia has a series of cooperation projects going on with China, such as in education, culture and sports. Without a doubt, we have a lot to learn about winter sports organization from our Chinese hosts."

Preparing for the Games on a tighter-than-normal schedule, Harbin — which was only confirmed as host of the 2025 edition 18 months prior to the Games'spectacular opening last week — has pulled off almost a mission impossible to prepare five downtown competition venues for ice sports, and eight courses at the Yabuli Ski Resort for the snow events, to the highest international standards.

The venues are all existing facilities, with some rinks and slopes having staged events at the 1996 edition, which was also hosted in Harbin.

Meanwhile, China's proven professionalism and know-how in organizing massive international multisports events, such as Beijing 2022 and the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, have guaranteed the smooth operation of the Harbin Asiad.

Harbin won the bid for the 9th Asian Winter Games in July 2023,and Sultan Al Busaidi, chair of the OCA's medical committee, spoke highly of the event's organization.

"Harbin took over in a very short time, and the organizers have done extensive work," he said.

"We are impressed by the healthcare system, with its advanced equipment, skilled personnel and professional training."

With less than a year to go before the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics open in Italy, Harbin 2025 has also offered Asia's ambitious medal contenders an invaluable "dress rehearsal" ahead of the ultimate Olympic test.

The inclusion of the new Olympic discipline of ski mountaineering in Harbin 2025's program, in particular, has helped young aspirants gauge their strength and adjust their pace as they look to scale the podium's heights at skimo's Olympic debut in Italy.

"Within Asia, the Chinese team is among the strongest in ski mountaineering, but there is still a gap compared to European powerhouses. We look forward to testing ourselves against them on the Olympic stage," said China's men's sprint gold medalist, Buluer.

Off the ice and snow, the warmth of the Chinese hosts and the breathtaking scenery around the "Ice City" have left overseas participants impressed.

"We were overwhelmed. It exceeded our expectations," Ahmed Al Shaya, coach of Kuwait's curling team, said in Harbin. "It's the first time for me in China, first time in Harbin. It's a great city, very welcoming. I like the people, I like the volunteers, they're doing a great job. The organization and everything that we've seen so far was way beyond our expectations."

Winter sports may be synonymous with snowcapped mountains and icy lakes, but the passion felt for them knows no boundaries — not even the blistering deserts of Saudi Arabia or the humid tropics of Cambodia, both of which made their Asian Winter Games debut at this year's tournament in Harbin.

After four curling matches in Harbin, the Saudi Arabian team, which consists of five male players with an average age of over 45, sits fourth among six teams. For veteran curler Hussain Hagawi, the journey to Harbin is more about learning and building a winter sports legacy from the ground up.

"The games were quite hard for us," admitted the 46-year-old. "But, it's really important. When we play with top teams like the Republic of Korea, China and Japan, we will start growing."

Despite their inexperience, the Saudis embraced the Games with enthusiasm. "The quality of the ice, the organization, the volunteers — everything is top class and professional," said Saudi team coach Alastair Fyfe. "We're really happy to be here."

A lack of curling facilities at home has not deterred the Saudi curlers. Instead, they often travel to Europe for training, and sometimes use an ice hockey rink in the capital, Riyadh.

But change is on the horizon, as Saudi Arabia is set to host the next Asian Winter Games in 2029, the first-ever edition of the tournament to be held in West Asia. With new venues under construction, interest in winter sports has been growing in recent years.

Hagawi has also witnessed the trend. "When I first picked up the sport in 2017, only three or four people were curling, but now we have more than 300 players, including children," he noted.

His next goal is to swap his broom for a coaching role, helping to nurture the next generation of curlers in Saudi Arabia. "It's not a game that you retire at 40 or 50, you can continue playing until you're 75," said Hagawi.

Cambodia, another tropical nation making its debut at the Winter Asiad, sent a small, but determined, team of four athletes. Among them, 14-year-old Panhasith Pisey has already made history as the youngest snowboarder in the slopestyle event.

"I'm happy to be here and to have performed to my level," he said after finishing 11th in qualifying. Although he missed out on the finals, Pisey remained positive, adding that, with more training, he will continue to improve.

Pisey's participation has already garnered significant attention back home, inspiring many Cambodians to take an interest in winter sports. "My family and friends are proud of me. When people found out I was competing, they started paying attention to snowboarding."

His fellow Cambodian snowboarder Chantsovanratanak Doung echoed the sentiment. "This is my first time in China, and the ski resorts here are amazing. Back home, we have no snow and very few opportunities to train, so I really value this experience. Competing against top athletes helps me improve."

The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) sees this historic participation as an important step in expanding the nation's sporting horizons. "It's a proud moment for Cambodia," said NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun. "Sending a team to the Asian Winter Games aligns with the International Olympic Committee's vision of encouraging tropical nations to participate in winter sports."

Moreover, the vision has gradually become a reality in more regions in Asia. "Soon, you'll be hearing good news about Saudi athletes in other winter sports, such as speed skating and figure skating," said Hagawi.

XINHUA

An overweight, middle-aged man in Switzerland, with little athletic prowess, decided to pursue the seemingly impossible goal of becoming an Olympian.

It sounds like the plot of a Hollywood comedy, yet, the 42-year-old entrepreneur Alan Frei is on the verge of making it happen for real.

Two years ago, standing at 1.72 meters and weighing 102 kilograms, Frei noticed his health was declining.

With money, time and an entrepreneurial mindset, Frei chose to set a challenging fitness goal to give his weight loss journey a clear purpose.

And what's more challenging than becoming an Olympian?

He told everyone around him about his newfound dream and then began to take action. He engaged a lawyer to help with researching all the regulatory requirements.

"You have no chance for Switzerland, but you have a small chance for the Winter Olympics, representing the Philippines in cross-country skiing," the lawyer told Frei, whose mother is Filipino.

It wasn't long before he discovered he had "zero talent" for a sporting career on skis.

At the same time, a trio of seasoned Swiss-Filipino curlers — electrician Enrico Pfister, his brother and construction worker Marc Pfister, and banker Christian Haller, who previously competed at world championships for Switzerland — were searching for a fourth member to establish a Philippines men's curling team. They reached out to Frei through email after they heard about his unlikely Olympic quest.

"I have never curled in my life, but you know, I have no talent in cross-country skiing, so let me try curling," Frei explained his thought process. He decided to give it a try immediately.

Despite being a total rookie on the ice, Frei — a successful entrepreneur who studied finance and sinology at the University of Zurich and China's Nanjing University before co-founding the multi-million-dollar business Amorana.ch, an online sex toy shop — took charge of the team's social networking and business development, and even sold his company to sponsor the team.

Soon, the first Philippines men's curling team was officially established.

"I'm very happy to be in Harbin where everything is well-organized," said Frei.

"I was a businessman for 25 years and now I'm in sports.

"Running a business means dealing with emails every day. In business, I know what I'm doing.

"Here, I'm a beginner, a nobody. I feel nervous on the ice, and everybody is looking at you; it's very exciting for me," he added.

"It's so nice being on the team. Now we are really close friends. Without them, I won't have a chance," said Frei, adding that skipper Marc is the boss on the ice, while he is the boss off it.

The quartet, all born to Filipino mothers, communicate in Swiss or German, none of them speak any Filipino language.

However, bringing glory to their mothers' homeland in international sporting events gives them a sense of pride.

"That makes me really proud," said Marc, 33.

"In the Philippines, most people don't know much about curling, but they cheer for us, supporting us.

"It's really cool," he added.

He started curling at the age of six at his parents' request, although personally, he would have preferred tennis, football, or hockey.

However, as he honed his curling skills, he started to enjoy the sport more and more.

"We can play with friends and family members, traveling the whole world," he said, adding that his family would curl together twice a week.

When asked about the chemistry within this unconventional quartet, he answered: "Dynamic, fun, and pleasant."

That chemistry has clearly been working well for the quartet, as it dispatched the Japanese team 10-4 on Thursday to set up a semifinal clash with the host, China, later that evening.

Regardless of the outcome, it's all positive for Frei, who, thanks to his complete lifestyle shift, has successfully lost 27 kg, and now appears much healthier.

"I still need to lose another eight kilograms," he said.

Though, he probably wouldn't mind the extra weight of a medal hanging around his neck.

The Harbin Asian Winter Games have been the best Winter Asiad yet, and, with its natural environment, the host city has the potential to become a global winter tourism hub, said Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, first vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, in an exclusive interview with China Daily.

Harbin was designated as the host city for the continental sporting gala on July 8, 2023, leaving the city with just 18 months to prepare for the event — a considerably shorter time frame than the usual several years of preparation needed for major international sporting events.

"It's an absolute miracle," Fok said, adding that the Games' legacy will benefit local people.

"The greatest thing about the Games is that it's a catalyst for change. If you don't have the Games, it might take much longer. All the facilities renovated for the Games are given to the people in Harbin to use, especially the young people. I think that's a very important point."

He also praised Hangzhou's hosting of the Asian Summer Games in 2023, emphasizing that the organizers' meticulous attention to detail during the event continues to be a subject of conversation to this day.

"Hosting the Winter Asiad is even more difficult because many people in Asia are from tropical countries. Frankly, when Harbin was first mentioned as the host city, they were always concerned about the extreme cold. Now, you have done everything to provide comfort," he said.

"The logistics, transportation, hospitality and, most importantly, Harbin being a very beautiful city, make it a place where ... I would like to visit some of the sites and explore the history," he added.

During Fok's stay in Harbin, he and his eldest son, Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, who is vice-president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, explored the city's major attractions, including the famous Chinese-Baroque Historic and Cultural Block in Daowai district.

"I think one of the greatest things about (the Games) is not only the sporting exchanges, but also seeing as much of Harbin as you can," the elder Fok said.

Hong Kong, China has sent its largest-ever delegation to the Games, with 74 athletes competing in curling, ice hockey, figure skating, short-track speed skating, speed skating and alpine skiing.

"I'd like to see more young people from Hong Kong and Harbin engaging in exchanges. I hope that, through such exchanges, we can not only enhance (their proficiency in winter sports), but also get to know each other better," Fok said.

"In fact, many Hong Kong athletes train on the Chinese mainland, especially in winter sports. I hope that there can be more generous support for these exchanges," he added.

Hong Kong skater Sidney K Chu, 25, serves as a vivid example of sporting exchanges between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese mainland.

Chu has been training for years in Changchun, Jilin province, where he learned to speak the local dialect. This proficiency helped him gain popularity on Chinese social media platforms during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and the ongoing Winter Asiad.

Normally just a short-track specialist, in Harbin, he also competed in the speed skating program.

"This is my first time competing in speed skating at an international event, and I wanted to challenge myself because there are very few professional speed skaters from Hong Kong. I hope to show more Hong Kong people the charm of winter sports," he said.

Fok added: "Our athletes spend a lot of time here and develop a local accent. Now, this is the beauty of sport."

Such exchanges are also expected to be seen during this year's 15th National Games, which Hong Kong will co-host along with the Macao Special Administrative Region and Guangdong province, he added.

"It's actually about sports for all. This is a truly great sports country. I think sports should be a very significant part of people's lives, especially for young people.I encourage everybody to pursue a sport, and now, with a Games like this, you can improve all the facilities and create a legacy," he said.

It was a family affair at the Harbin Pingfang District Curling Arena, as many teams featured players related by blood.

Hu Pianpian and Chan Ka, players from Hong Kong, China, are mother and daughter. The Qatar women's team included two pairs of sisters, while brothers Marc and Enrico Pfister represented the Philippines in the men's curling competition.

In daily life, these family members are closely connected, but on the curling rink, they are teammates, striving for sporting success.

"In life, I take care of her as a mother. On the rink, we are teammates fighting side by side," said Hu, embracing Chan in her arms.

According to Hu, any disagreements they might have are quickly forgotten once they step onto the ice.

"All we think about is how to play each stone well," she explained. Curling, she added, has given her and her daughter more shared interests, deepening their mutual understanding.

"Growing up in a curling family, how could I not fall in love with it?" said Amna Homoud Al-Qaet, a player from Qatar's women's curling team.

"My mother, my little sister, and other relatives, all play. This sport is highly inclusive, regardless of age, body shape or gender. Everyone can get involved."

At 20 years old, Amna is the oldest player in the Qatar team.

She is full of passion on the rink and cheers loudly to inspire her teammates. "I'm very happy to compete alongside my sister. We've also learned a lot from other teams," Amna said.

Qatar's Fatima Ahmed Al-Fahad and Aldana Ahmed Al-Fahad are also sisters, with their father, Ahmed Saad Al-Fahad, playing for Qatar's men's team.

"I am very glad to participate in the Asian Winter Games with my daughters, and they are performing better than ever. We love this 'gentle sport'," said Ahmed.

He started curling in 2017 and often trains with his daughters, offering them tips.

Making their Asian Winter Games debut, the two sisters admitted to feeling a bit nervous. "Our father is also here, and he keeps encouraging us, so we are not afraid of challenges," said Fatima.

On Wednesday, the men's and women's teams from Hong Kong, China, won their respective matches.

Jason Chang, the captain of the men's team, is married to Shang Wing In Ada, who plays third in the women's team. "It feels very special and enjoyable to compete and win at the same time as my wife," said Chang.

Hong Kong coach Nathan Edward Small began curling with his father at a young age. "I always wanted to perform as well as my father, and that continues to drive me," he said.

From individuals to entire families, curling is drawing more people into winter sports and strengthening connections among them through the shared hobby.

XINHUA

As a golden dragon, guided by dancers, weaved and soared through the press center at Yabuli, the ski resort cluster hosting the snow sports at the ongoing 9th Asian Winter Games on Wednesday afternoon, the celebratory atmosphere of Lantern Festival was instantly ignited.

Meanwhile, two lively lions entertained and playfully interacted with the audience, drawing cheers and applause.

"To celebrate the traditional Chinese festival, we have carefully planned a series of activities, hoping that athletes and journalists from all over the world can immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture and enjoy the warmth and happiness of traditional Chinese festivals," said Ning Xiaofeng, general manager of Harbin Yabuli Tourism Investment Group.

At the area designated for writing the Chinese character fu, which symbolizes good fortune, tables were neatly arranged with brushes, ink, paper and inkstones. Participants eagerly picked up brushes to inscribe the auspicious characters on red paper.

Despite many being first-time users of the brush, everyone wrote with great care, showcasing their deep respect for traditional Chinese culture.

Meanwhile, at the Games' main press center in Harbin, over 60 representatives from the Olympic Council of Asia and various delegations, including Hong Kong, China, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Mongolia celebrated the festival together.

At the event, athletes, officials and media personnel handcrafted tangyuan — glutinous rice balls, symbolic of reunion — and engaged in lantern riddles, experiencing the traditional charm of Lantern Festival.

Visitors also lingered at the intangible cultural heritage exhibition area, gaining insights into traditional Chinese arts such as calligraphy, fish skin painting, lacquerware and lantern making, appreciating the profound depth, richness and artistic allure of Chinese culture.

"I dived deep into Chinese culture,"said Enkhzaya Ganbat, a member of the Mongolia National Curling Team.

"I am expecting to make a lantern, and will take it back home after the Games finish."

During the traditional dance performances, the beat of the drum dance intertwined with the lively rhythms of Northeast yangko, prompted many of the visitors to join in, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

From Feb 5 to 14, the intangible cultural heritage exhibition, centered around the theme "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia", took place at four non-competition venues, hotels and the main press center.

The event brought together several distinctive national intangible heritage projects, such as wheat-straw painting and Fangzheng paper-cutting, as well as provincial intangible heritage projects such as gold lacquer inlay and Ewenki birch bark pyrography.

With a history dating back 8,000 years, the gold lacquer inlay is an important category of traditional Chinese lacquerware.

"The combination of gold lacquer and inlay techniques holds deep historical value, elegant artistic value, extensive practical value, and precious collectible value," said Xia Lijun, a provincial-level inheritor of the skill. "I took over 80 pieces of work to the event, including gold lacquer inlay paintings and items, as well as related cultural and creative products, attracting great attention from the visitors."

"At my booth, I taught the athletes and officials from various countries and regions to make fans with the floating lacquer skill — placing lacquer of various colors in water and gently stirring it, then slowly dipping a fan into the water, allowing the lacquer to adhere to the surface, creating exquisite artistic effects," he said. "The process of creating a lacquer fan takes around three minutes, after which it can be taken away for later use once the surface is dry."

"Officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran expressed their intention to invite me to show my skills in their countries, which made me feel quite honored that I may have the chance to spread Chinese culture to other parts of the world."

The event seamlessly integrated ancient intangible heritage with the Games, and enriched them with a strong cultural ambiance.

"The event, with its diverse displays and content, exciting interactive activities, and innovative integration of intangible heritage with contemporary needs, added a splendid touch to the Games," said Wang Di, deputy director of Harbin Mass Art Center.

"By incorporating intangible cultural heritage into modern sports events like the Asian Winter Games, the event will provide an opportunity for China's outstanding traditional culture to step onto the world stage, engaging in broader exchanges and mutual learning with cultures from around the world."

Although for the first time ever Xie Yu was unable to spend the Spring Festival holiday with her parents, she nonetheless considered it to be the most memorable Spring Festival of her life.

The 21-year-old student is one of the 1,310 volunteers from the Harbin Institute of Technology at the ongoing 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province.

"When I got the news that volunteers were being selected for the Games, I signed up immediately, due to my love for winter sports and a strong sense of social responsibility," she said. "I was appointed to the position of audience guide for the opening and closing ceremonies, so I had to stay in Harbin for training and rehearsals instead of returning to my home in Hebei province."

However, the time spent with her schoolmates and teachers made her feel quite warm and happy.

"We received warm gift packs from the institute, including a vacuum cup, scarf and portable medical kit," she said. "The institute also prepared a sumptuous Chinese New Year's Eve dinner for all the volunteers."

Starting on Nov 30, the recruitment of volunteers for the Games, which end on Friday, attracted much enthusiasm, with nearly 100,000 people signing up.

Li Yanfeng, deputy director of the human resources and volunteer service department of the Games' executive committee, said, "To select a high-quality and skilled team of volunteers, we established standards based on language proficiency, professional expertise, social experience, physical and mental qualities, and participation time, according to the needs of the event.

"Finally, we selected 5,875 volunteers, including 26 overseas students, to provide multilanguage translation services, more than 500 volunteers who have mastered skiing and skating skills, and over 2,000 volunteers with expertise in medical and health care, information technology and media services."

To improve service quality and practical capabilities, the committee organized more than 90 training sessions for the volunteers, and various universities conducted over 150 volunteer training sessions.

"During the event, the volunteers have provided high-quality and professional services, receiving full recognition from officials of the Olympic Council of Asia, delegation members and athletes," said Li. "They have embodied the spirit of volunteer service, promoted the Olympic spirit, and demonstrated a vibrant and positive spirit."

The committee also paid close attention to various aspects of volunteer support, such as transportation, meals and medical care.

"For Spring Festival, we organized activities such as writing and pasting Spring Festival couplets, making dumplings and hosting a New Year's Eve party to enrich volunteers' lives," said Li. "We established 23 volunteer stations in various venues, equipped with tables, chairs, water dispensers, chargers and other basic supplies to provide volunteers with comfortable temporary rest conditions."

The committee prepared volunteer service certificates and limited-edition commemorative badges for distribution to volunteers after the event.

"The carefully designed certificates, which are full of event elements, and a 'thank you' letter to the volunteers will be a surprise and an eternal memory for all the volunteers," he added.

Meng Shengnan, supervisor of media rental space at the Games' main media center, led her team of four volunteers to provide services to the media during the event.

"They have demonstrated good personal qualities and volunteer service capabilities, showcasing their youthful vigor to media workers," she said. "Although we had quite a busy period, I believe it will be the most unforgettable and valuable experience during their college life."

In the snow-covered winter, Harbin, capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, attracts visitors from across the world with its charming ice and snow landscapes.

However, the charm of the Ice City lies not only in its natural beauty, but also in its rich and diverse, uniquely characteristic, culinary culture.

From traditional Northeast China flavors to exotic Russian delicacies, Harbin's culinary map is colorful and varied, with each dish carrying the history and emotions of the city.

One of the most representative delicacies of the city is undoubtedly the Harbin sausage.

It has a unique production process — starting with the selection of high-quality pork, followed by marinating, grinding, stuffing, smoking and roasting, ultimately creating the deep red color and rich smoky aroma of the delicious local delicacy.

Whether as a dish on the dining table or a lunch box snack for a long journey, Harbin sausage is highly favored.

It has been a long-held culinary calling card of the city, attracting tourists visiting Harbin to take it away with them and savor the unique taste at home.

Guobaorou, known as the representative dish of Harbin, and even the northeastern region, originated in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Made with marinated and battered pork or beef slices that are then stir-fried in a sweet-and-sour sauce, it offers a uniquely delightful combination of textures and flavors.

With a satisfying crunch, followed by the juicy and tender meat, along with the signature sweet and sour flavor, it tantalizes the taste buds.

Whether in upscale restaurants or streetside eateries, it is a highly popular dish, witnessing the development of Harbin's culinary culture and serving as a window through which visitors can explore northeastern cuisine.

Demoli stewed fish also has a long history, dating back over 100 years, and is a specialty dish of Demoli village in the city's Fangzheng county. "Demoli" means ferry in Manchu language.

The township is located near the Songhua River, where villagers have traditionally relied on fishing for a living.

In the early 1980s, an elderly couple in Demoli opened a small restaurant, using fresh carp from the local area and stewing it with tofu, vermicelli noodles and Chinese cabbage to serve to passersby.

The dish quickly gained fame for its delicious taste and bold northeastern style, spreading throughout Fangzheng.

The dish requires a strict selection of ingredients, including fresh carp from the Songhua River as the main ingredient, fragrant, soft and tender tofu and northeastern sweet potato vermicelli that is cooked to transparency and an al dente texture.

All the ingredients are stewed together with spring water from the Qinglong Mountain, along with more than 10 kinds of seasonings and a specialist northeastern soybean paste.

The stewed fish is tender and fresh, with a rich and flavorful soup, while the tofu and vermicelli absorb the essence of the fish, creating a dish that is both delicious and hearty.

Russian cuisine also has a deep historical connection with Harbin. Due to the city's unique geographical location and historical background, Russian culture has left a profound imprint, with its cuisine integrating into the local culinary culture.

Borscht is a classic appetizer in Russian cuisine, made primarily with beets and complemented by ingredients like beef, potatoes, onions and carrots, simmered for a long time to create a rich, tangy and hearty soup.

Pot-roasted beef is another must-try dish, where beef chunks are cooked in a pot with mushrooms, carrots and a special sauce, before being sealed with foil and roasted in the oven.

There's also the crispy, yet soft Russian black bread, with its firm crust and soft, doughy interior, rich in wheaty flavor.

When served with butter or jam, it provides a delicious toothsome snack.

In addition to these, Harbin's kebabs are also renowned, known for their rich ingredients and unique grilling techniques.

From tender lamb and beef, to various seafood and vegetables, each kind of food on the grill exudes great flavor.

The cook skillfully flips the kebabs, brushes them with special sauces, then sprinkles them with cumin, chili powder and other seasonings.

The kebabs take on a perfect golden hue, giving off a tantalizing aroma that brings a sense of happiness and really whets the appetite.

Harbin's culinary culture is diverse, blending the boldness of northeastern cuisine, the romance of Russian cuisine, and the essence of various flavors from across the country.

Each dish has its own story, not only satisfying people's taste buds, but also serving as a unique cultural symbol of the city.

Premier Li Qiang will attend the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Friday, and will hold a welcoming banquet and bilateral events for foreign leaders attending the Games.

Li will meet separately with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene in Harbin, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular news conference on Thursday.

The seven-day visit by the Cook Islands prime minister, which began on Monday, also took him to Shanghai and Shandong province, Guo said.

Describing the Cook Islands as a cooperative partner of China in the South Pacific, the spokesman said the two countries have always respected each other, treated each other equally, and developed together since the establishment of diplomatic ties 28 years ago.

The two countries upgraded the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2018.

The friendly cooperation between the two sides has solid popular support and brings tangible benefits to both peoples, Guo said, expressing the hope that the two sides will jointly promote bilateral relations to achieve new progress.

In another development, Guo expressed the belief that the three-day visit to China by Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene, which began on Thursday, will further deepen political mutual trust, enrich the comprehensive strategic partnership and contribute to the building of a community of shared future between the two countries.

Calling China and Mongolia friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, Guo said the current relationship is maintaining sound development momentum.

The close high-level exchanges, as well as deepened friendly interactions and mutually beneficial cooperation, have brought benefits to the two peoples, he said.

China has been Mongolia's largest trading partner and investor for many years. Data from the Mongolian Customs General Administration shows that trade volume between the two nations reached $19.047 billion in 2024, up 8.5 percent year-on-year.

China won gold, South Korea silver and Kazakhstan bronze after the biathlon women's 4x6km relay match at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Yabuli, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Feb 13, 2025.

This year's Lantern Festival coincided with the Asian Winter Games, which made this event a blend of intangible cultural heritages and sporting spirits.

Media reporters, staff members, and volunteers came together to partake in festive activities at Yabuli Media Center on Feb 12, 2025. They wrote the Chinese character fu (blessing), crafted lanterns, engaged in lantern riddle guessing, and wrapped yuanxiao (sweet glutinous rice balls).

The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations and is a time for families to come together, enjoying the beauty of lanterns and the joyous atmosphere.

With the grand opening and subsequent thrilling competitions of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, capturing the world's attention, alongside the city's magnificent ice sculptures and snowy scenery, the region's rich and diverse intangible cultural heritage has also found its way into the spotlight.

During the Games, Harbin's intangible cultural heritage projects have become a major highlight, demonstrating the unique charm of Chinese traditional culture to athletes and spectators from various Asian countries.

At Wang Chunjing's stall in Harbin, children gasp as they watch her create lifelike creatures out of molten maltose in minutes, but their reactions do not surprise the 34-year-old, who has been making sugar figurines, a traditional Chinese folk art, for more than a decade.

The process begins with heating sugar syrup, drawing out a small portion, kneading it into a ball with a hollow center, pinching the edges together and stretching it into a tube.

She then blows air into the tube and molds the sugar ball into different shapes.

"To make a successful piece, I have to do it all in minutes," Wang said.

Born in Heilongjiang's Qinggang county, she understands the children's reactions, because she, too, once watched in amazement as her father did the same thing when she was a child.

"He learned from my grandfather and mastered sugar figurine creation to support the family," she said. "But, from my perspective as a child, he was more like a magician."

Showing both interest and talent, Wang was able to make easy shapes, like a gourd, with sugar syrup by the time she was 6.

After graduating from senior high school in 2008, she spent three years mastering the skills and then traveled to different provinces, including Guangdong, Yunnan, Sichuan, Fujian, and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region to earn a living by making the sugar figurines.

In 2006, the sugar figurine craft was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage, and in 2019, Wang was granted the title of provincial-level inheritor.

"As far as I know, there are fewer than 100 people in China who can make sugar figurines, and even fewer are female inheritors," she said. "It is not easy to innovate an intangible cultural heritage item, but I will persevere."

Despite a long journey on a slow train from Harbin to Mohe, the nation's northernmost city in Heilongjiang, passengers recently got a chance to enjoy a unique tour of the region's intangible cultural heritage.

Before train K7041 left the Harbin Railway Station for its destination, five intangible cultural heritage inheritors from the Greater Hinggan Mountains region boarded the train.

They were invited to showcase Ewenki birch bark pyrography, dough sculpting, Oroqen mouth organ, folk songs and embroidery, making K7041 the first ethnic intangible cultural heritage train operated by China Railway Harbin Group.

"Heilongjiang has rich intangible cultural heritage, with items such as the Ewenki ethnic folk song, dough sculpting, and Ewenki birch bark pyrography from the Greater Hinggan Mountains region being selected as national or provincial intangible cultural heritage projects," said the team head Zheng Weihong, director of the region's art theater.

"With the continuous popularity of ice and snow tourism in the province, Mohe has become a hot destination.

"The themed train can display both the unique natural scenery and folk customs of the region, attracting more tourists from across the nation," he added.

Kang Jian attracted lots of spectators around his table.

Using wheat flour as a base, he adds some ingredients to make the dough, which is then shaped, kneaded and pinched by hand, or using simple tools such as scissors and bamboo sticks, to form lifelike sculptures.

"I chose locally produced black wheat flour for the dough, which is a low-gluten flour with less elasticity, but more toughness, making it easier to shape," said Kang, 35, a provincial-level inheritor of dough sculpting from Mohe.

"Blending the methods used to make painted clay sculptures in Chinese temples, and modern techniques for sculpting the muscles and veins of the figures, I was able to make the sculptures more lifelike."

Liu Ying, a tourist from Heze, Shandong province, picked up a piece of dough and learned from Kang how to make a sculpture.

"There are several ways to shape a face," Kang told Liu. "Pressing firmly to highlight the cheekbones gives a more dignified look, while scoring the cheeks gives a more stern appearance."

Soon, Liu's dough sculpture began to take shape.

"It is my first time interacting up close with an intangible cultural heritage inheritor on a train," said Liu. "It is also a rare opportunity to learn the skill."

"When I return home, I will show my dough sculpting works to my friends," she said, holding onto the piece she had just made.

Besides Kang, Du Hui, a provincial-level inheritor of birch bark pyrography, was casually drawing a mountain range.

"To create a piece, the bark first needs to be compressed with a wooden board for over a year and combined before creating the pyrography," said Du, 46, a member of the Ewenki ethnic group. "The spots and scars on the bark can be turned into stones in the picture.

"The Ewenki houses, called cuoluozi, are made of birch bark, and the cradle I used as a child was also made of birch bark," he said.

"Now, I incorporate modern elements into my works, creating not only pyrography pictures, but also pen holders, fridge magnets, birch bark bags and tea barrels."

As the train rolled on, the Ewenki inheritor sang a folk song in the Ewenki language, while an Ewenki jaw harp inheritor accompanied him, prompting passengers to spontaneously join in singing together.

In the dining carriage, railway workers prepared local cuisine — frozen pears and frozen persimmons — for passengers, as well as delivering wonderful performances, such as yangko, a type of folk dance.

"This Spring Festival marks the first one after Chinese New Year was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity," said the train conductor Shi Lei.

"With more tourists visiting Mohe, we prepared the themed train, allowing passengers to learn about Heilongjiang's intangible cultural heritage while enjoying their trip."

Contact the writers at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn

Not another Muay Thai fighter, not another golfer, not an emerging sepak takraw talent — it's a virtually unknown pioneer in an unexpected sport that has got the Thai nation on its feet cheering.

All of a sudden, and out of nowhere, Thai skier Paul Henri Vieuxtemps rocked Asian winter sports on its heels, after the French-born freeskier surprisingly landed on the podium at the Harbin Asian Winter Games — the first Thai ever to do so in the continental winter sports gala's 39-year history.

In his third and final run in Tuesday's slopestyle final, the 25-year-old scored 85.25 points by stomping a string of tricks off jumps and rails to clinch a bronze medal behind Japanese winner Rai Kasamura and runner-up Ruka Ito, stealing the show at the Yabuli Ski Resort.

Despite landing higher-scoring and more difficult runs, the Japanese duo's 1-2 finish seemed to be business as usual. Both were eclipsed by Vieuxtemps' leap of faith, which made Thailand only the sixth delegation to medal at the Harbin showpiece.

It also made Thailand the first country from the tropical regions across Southeast Asia to appear on the all-time medal table at a Winter Asiad since the inaugural edition in 1986.

"This is my first time competing at the Asian Games, and I am deeply honored to have won Thailand's historic first medal," said Vieuxtemps, who has dual citizenship in France and Thailand, yet opted to represent his mother's native country on the global stage.

With so much at stake, and following a failed landing on his second run, Vieuxtemps delivered, executing, arguably, the best run of his career — etching his name in the history of Asian winter sports forever.

"I made mistakes and fell during my first two runs, but I was satisfied with my third run and secured the bronze medal," he said.

"Before my final run, I took a moment to breathe deeply, calm my nerves and mentally rehearse the tricks I planned to perform.

"I've done my best and successfully executed the most challenging trick."

In his second event in Harbin, the Big Air, Vieuxtemps overcame challenging windy conditions at Yabuli's monster slope to land two of his three runs in the final on Wednesday, but failed to land on the podium again after finishing 6th overall.

Kasamura won his second freeski gold of the Games, while the Republic of Korea's Yoon Jonghyun and Shin Yeong-seop clinched the silver and bronze, respectively.

Born in the French port city of Rouen, on the River Seine, Vieuxtemps took up freestyle skiing as a teen prospect, developing his skills at the northern Alps resort of Les Orres, influenced by his father, who he claimed in 2015 could still do a backflip at 50 years old.

Due to the French ski association's focus on alpine events back then, in 2017, Vieuxtemps chose to suit up for Thailand when the tropical nation began to diversify its sports development by investing in ice and snow sports.

Since his debut 2017-18 season on the FIS World Cup circuit, Vieuxtemps has flown the Thai flag on multiple international occasions, with his two-medal finish (silver in Big Air and bronze in slopestyle) at the 2023 Winter Universiade in Lake Placid, New York, turning heads among the sport's niche community.

Beginning with indoor ice sports, such as curling and hockey, Thailand has ambitiously expanded its presence at the continental level into snow-based events, including cross-country and freestyle skiing, with talent drafted and nurtured from similar dry-land sports such as roller skiing and inline skating.

The country is represented by its largest-ever Winter Asiad contingent of 85 athletes, contesting six sports in Harbin.

Vieuxtemps, who also incorporated inline skating at skate parks into his offseason training, said it's only the beginning, as more Thais look to make inroads into winter sports — and he goes in search of more national glory.

"I hope to compete in the world championships in Switzerland (at St Moritz Engadin from March 17 to 30) after the World Cup and Europa Cup series," said Vieuxtemps.

Contact the writer at sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn