From herding livestock to topping the medal podium, it's been quite the journey for Xinjiang's golden girl

Bayani Jialin, the daughter of a Kazakh herder from China's northwest border, never imagined she would stand atop the podium at an international competition a mere eight years after taking up skiing.

The cross-country skier won her first continental title at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, claiming gold in the women's 5km freestyle event. Starting from ninth place, she surged ahead to overtake all in front of her, finishing in 12 minutes and 7.5 seconds.

"The 5km race tests both speed and endurance. I just focused on doing my best and not having any regrets," the 25-year-old said, remaining composed despite her first ever major victory.

Humble beginnings

Born in 1999 in Jeminay county, a remote area in China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Bayani grew up surrounded by boundless natural beauty.

As a child, she followed her father, Jialin Aubakir, tending livestock and racing across the hills on horseback. In winter, she fashioned makeshift wooden skis to glide down the slopes near her home.

Harsh winter snowstorms shaped her physical endurance, and she excelled in long-distance running at school. In 2017, as a high school sophomore, she was selected for the Xinjiang cross-country skiing team, setting her on a new athletic path.

Cross-country skiing is one of the most grueling winter sports, demanding endurance in extreme cold. Bayani, who had never received professional training before joining the team, relied on sheer determination to close the gap with her compatriots and competitors.

Since 2018, she and her teammates spent three years training intensively in Norway. The physical strain was immense, but the greatest challenge was the uncertainty about her future. While her classmates entered university, she struggled to achieve competitive results, finishing last in her first international race.

"There were countless times I wanted to give up," she admitted. "But, every time I fell, I thought of my family, my coach and my teammates who supported and encouraged me. I kept believing that, if I started the training, I could make it."

Her perseverance paid off.

"Every race during my training in Norway helped me recognize my weaknesses and fueled me to keep pushing forward," she said.

In 2022, Bayani and her teammates placed 10th in the women's 4x5km relay at the Beijing Winter Olympics, marking China's best performance in the event.

Regional rise

Bayani's victory at the Asian Winter Games highlights the growing presence of winter sports in Xinjiang.

In recent years, the local government has invested more in winter sports development, launching initiatives such as the Ice and Snow into Schools Program and allocating resources from training to facilities. These efforts have nurtured a new generation of skilled athletes and positioned the region as a rising force on China's winter sports scene.

Bayani is not the only Xinjiang athlete to shine in Harbin. Her teammate, Dinigeer Yilamujiang, claimed silver in the same event, while another local athlete, Buluer, won gold in the men's ski mountaineering sprint. The day before, Dinigeer and Saimuhaer Sailike also secured bronze medals in their respective cross-country sprint events.

"More young athletes are joining winter sports, especially through school-based programs. This has contributed to the growth of a strong pool of talent in Xinjiang," said Kang Yongxin, head of the region's Winter Sports Training Center.

For Bayani, winter sports have been life-changing. Whenever she returns home, she visits local schools to share the story of her journey and offers guidance on skiing techniques and training methods.

"I hope our performances inspire more young people in Xinjiang to train hard and achieve good results," she said. "I look forward to seeing cross-country skiing in Xinjiang shine brighter in the future."

Xinhua

The snowboard halfpipe qualification round on Wednesday at the Yabuli Ski Resort saw Japan's Sara Shimizu and the Republic of Korea's Kim Geonhui taking the top spots in the women's and men's events respectively.

In the women's event, of the 10 participants, five are ranked in the FIS top 10, but 15-year-old Shimizu dominated with a score of 98.00 points.

Shimizu is the youngest competitor in the event, but showed remarkable skill and maturity to earn the highest score in the second run. The fearless teen, who won silver at last year's Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, Republic of Korea, was the only athlete to attempt the challenging backside 900 rotation.

Sena Tomita who won women's halfpipe bronze at the Beijing Winter Olympics finished second at the qualification round with a score of 93.75 points.

"The Chinese athletes are our strongest competitors. We all know each other well, because we often compete together at international events," Tomita said.

China's Wu Shaotong, Cai Xuetong, Liu Yibo and Yang Lu all qualified for the finals, with Harbin native Wu in third place with a score of 86.50 points.

Cai also feels at home on the course at Yabuli.

"The course is all too familiar to me, because I've been training on it since I first started competing in the halfpipe. The place where I keep warm during training is still here," Cai said. "It's good to be back."

Cai made her Winter Olympics debut in Vancouver, Canada, in 2010 in the women's halfpipe event as the youngest athlete in the competition. She has continued to improve over the years, securing halfpipe gold at the FIS Snowboard World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria, in 2015, in Sierra Nevada in the US in 2017 and Bakuriani, Georgia, in 2023.

It was a bad day for Japan's Kudo Rise, gold medalist at last year's Winter Youth Olympics. She failed to make the finals following two error-filled runs.

Wind at the halfpipe venue started to pick up at noon, following the women's event, greatly affecting the performances of athletes competing in the men's snowboard halfpipe qualification round. So disruptive was the wind, that many decided to lower the difficulty of their runs during the second round.

Wang Ziyang, China's top medal hope, struggled on both runs, sustaining a serious injury on his second.

The 21-year-old landed on the edge of the halfpipe so hard that he chipped it after attempting a frontside 1260. He got back up, but struggled to make it to the bottom of the halfpipe, where he fell on his back, unable to move. He was quickly treated by paramedics at the scene, before being taken to hospital for treatment.

Gu Ao, Wang's teammate, said Wang had sustained a knee injury. "The wind has indeed created problems for the snowboarders. It keeps pushing us to one side of the halfpipe and had made it difficult to complete the tricks."

On Wednesday afternoon, Wang, who went viral online after executing a breathtaking triple front flip in the men's snowboard knuckle huck at the 2025 X Games in Aspen, Colorado, in January, said on social media: "It's not that bad. I will do my best to recover."

Japan's Kikuchihara Koyata emerged as the most consistent competitor, completing both runs without any obvious faults. He now sits second, with a score of 75.00. The ROK's Kim topped the men's standings after the first round with a score of 78.00.

The pioneering Afghan team, competing in the snowboard halfpipe at the Asian Winter Games for the first time, received rousing support from the crowd, even though the trio is unlikely to make the podium following Thursday's finals.

Ahmad Mushtaba Habibzi said that just making it to the Games was already a "gold medal moment" for the team.

"My dreams have truly come true today. I hope the young people in Afghanistan are watching and are inspired by us," Habibzi said.

Contact the writer at cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn

Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, first vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, said that Harbin has set a new benchmark for the Asian Winter Games during an exclusive interview with the China Daily online show Tracking Success. Fok said he's been enthralled not only by the exciting competitions, but also the great facilities and services provided by the host city. Fok is confident that the legacy of Winter Asiad will attract more people to try ice and snow sports, and he described the Harbin Games as the "best ever edition". To find out more, click the video.

If there's one word to capture the Chinese women's cross-country skiing team's performance at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, it's "dominant".

They didn't just compete, they swept the board, claiming all individual event medals along with the gold in the team relay. Every single one of the six athletes stood tall on the podium.

"As a team, we are still among the best in Asia," said Wang Yan, the team leader.

"Our main rivals are Japan and Kazakhstan. The results at this Asian Winter Games surpassed our expectations, and the athletes delivered a series of outstanding performances."

None more outstanding than their performance in Wednesday's 4x5km cross-country relay at the Yabuli Sports Training Base, securing victory despite challenging weather conditions.

Li Lei, Chi Chunxue, Chen Lingshuang, and Dinigeer Yilamujiang were unstoppable, crossing the finish line with a lead of one minute and 25.02 seconds over Kazakhstan, which finished second.

In the opening leg, Kazakhstan's Xeniya Shalygina held a 3km lead, but it didn't take long for Li to overtake her. The Chinese team continued to extend their lead through each leg, with Li focusing on conserving energy and maintaining a steady pace early in the race.

"My strategy was to stay behind Xeniya Shalygina in the beginning, as it requires less effort to maintain second place. I focused on my rhythm and waited for the right moment to make my move," Li explained.

Chi Chunxue, racing the second leg, worked to extend the advantage.

"My job was to widen the gap and relieve pressure for my teammates on the final two legs," she said.

As the anchor, Dinigeer crossed the finish line with ease, thanks to the strong efforts of her teammates.

"It wasn't just my performance — it was a true team effort," Dinigeer said.

"All four of us contributed toward the victory."

Dinigeer, who competed in all three women's events, earned three podium finishes: gold in the relay, silver in the 5km free, and bronze in the sprint classic. The team celebrated their victory together at the finish line, proudly waving the national flag.

Chi, 27, who had been studying in Russia from October to early January without getting a chance to train regularly, claimed gold in the relay and bronze in the women's 5 km free. She expressed satisfaction with her performance despite the challenges.

"Balancing academics and training was difficult," she said. "If I have the opportunity to prepare for the Olympic cycle, I will focus more on training and continue to pursue my passion and dreams."

"Every athlete has their own dream. Personally, I aspire to compete at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. Having participated in the Pyeongchang and Beijing Games, I hope to reach a higher level before the end of my career and give these final years my best effort."

Li, 30, the oldest member of the team, took home gold in both the relay and women's sprint classic. A seasoned competitor, Li previously won a gold, a silver, and a bronze in the cross-country skiing at the 14th National Winter Games.

Regarding next year's Winter Olympics, she said: "It's every athlete's dream, and I will continue striving toward that goal."

Bayani Jialin earned her first Asian Winter Games gold in the women's 5 km free on Sunday. Though she did not participate in the relay, she was present to cheer on her teammates.

"My success is also due to the support of my team," said the 25-year-old skier. "We help each other out — when I have weaknesses, I learn from my teammates and work to improve. We all grow and learn together."

At Beijing 2022, Bayani, along with Chi, Li Xin, and Ma Qinghua, helped secure 10th place in the women's relay, setting a new Olympic record for China in the event. Now, Bayani has committed to intensive training as she sets her sights on qualifying for Milano-Cortina next year.

Team leader Wang emphasized that, much like the Winter Olympics, the Asian Winter Games provided valuable international competition experience for the athletes.

"Our impressive results at this event were largely due to the contributions of our foreign coaches," he said. "Bernhard Ronning, who coaches the women's team and also serves as a wax technician preparing the team's skis, has been working with the Chinese team for about seven years. He is highly familiar with the strengths of Chinese athletes, and has extensive knowledge of both domestic and international skiing."

Wang also noted that while the team's performance at the Asian Winter Games was outstanding, their primary focus remains securing a spot at the Winter Olympics. Following the Games, the team will immediately head abroad to continue competing and working toward earning that qualification.

Contact the writer at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn

Leveraging its longstanding tradition in winter sports and unparalleled advantages in ice and snow resources, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province has continuously nurtured excellent winter sports talent, officials said on Wednesday.

"Over the years, Heilongjiang has nurtured 15 Winter Olympic champions, such as Yang Yang, Wang Meng, Shen Xue, Zhao Hongbo, Zhang Hong, and Gao Tingyu," Zhuang Shichao, deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee and deputy director of the executive committee of the ongoing 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin said at Wednesday's news conference. "Additionally, the cities of Harbin and Qitaihe were granted the commemorative title of 'City of Olympic Champions' by the Chinese Olympic Committee."

"We encourage different regions in the province to fully leverage their own strengths in developing different winter sports," said Zhuang. "For example, Qitaihe specializes in shorttrack speed skating, Qiqihar in ice hockey, Yichun in curling, Hegang in alpine skiing, and Jixi in cross-country skiing, forming a distinctive three-tier system of specialized and amateur talent development."

According to Zhuang, Heilongjiang has built 32 national-level ice and snow talent bases and 24 provincial-level bases.

The province also focuses on promoting winter sports among the younger generations.

From 2016 to 2024, the province conducted ice and snow activities in over 20,500 schools, with a total participation of over 15 million individuals.

"In recent years, we have consistently made winter sports a primary focus in our curriculum," said Liu Zhaoguo, inspector-general of the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Education. "We have established 774 schools with winter sports characteristics, where instructors provide 630 hours of annual teaching and guidance, ensuring that each student masters at least one winter sport skill proficiently."

The province also launched a series of ice and snow sports events, such as the Heilongjiang Provincial Student Winter Games, the Ice and Snow Sculpture Creative Design Competition, the Ice and Snow Art Carnival, student ice hockey leagues, as well as alpine skiing and curling championships, with an annual participation of 440,000 students.

Furthermore, Heilongjiang places great emphasis on the development of the ice and snow equipment industry.

"The province has a large number of ice and snow equipment manufacturing enterprises, with the capability to produce various types of ice and snow equipment, such as ice skates, skis, cable cars, towing systems, snowmobiles, snowmaking machines and entertainment equipment," said Wang Xuefeng, deputy director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology. "Quality ice and snow equipment manufacturing enterprises and industrial parks have settled in Heilongjiang."

"Leveraging the opportunity of hosting the Games and the achievements of engaging 300 million people in ice and snow sports in China, ice and snow equipment market demand will increase sharply," he said. "We will seize the opportunity and continue to support the development of the ice and snow equipment industry through various means, including strengthening technological innovation and product R&D, establishing homegrown brands, improving standard systems and leading industry upgrades."

Contact the writers at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn

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."

A step forward, but there's still a long way to go, as the alpine skiing event of the Asian Winter Games sees Chinese national champion Liu Xiaochen ranked seventh, China's best result in the sport.

Piers Adrian Iliffe, head coach of the Chinese alpine skiing team, told Xinhua that it would take him a long time to steer Chinese skiers to the top step of the podium.

Iliffe coached team Italy at six Winter Olympics, plus 13 editions of the World Championships. The Italian took over the Chinese alpine skiing team after Beijing 2022.

In Harbin, Liu, Chao Xinbo, Sun Xinmiao and Li Jinyang finished seventh, ninth, 13th and 15th respectively in men's slalom. Ni Yueming ranked eighth and Zhang Guiyuan took the 12th place in women's event.

"I'm pretty satisfied with the results. For the men's team, I think they delivered the best performance of their career," Iliffe said.

"With the women, it could have been better, especially because we have some elder athletes who have more experience," he added.

In Iliffe's view, he brought experience to team China, and tried to copy the European alpine skiing team's training system.

"Also, you know, I keep on getting films and videos from the best skiers in the world. We're doing good work," Iliffe said.

In Harbin, two alpine skiing golds were bagged by Japan, as well as two bronze medals. The skiers from Republic of Korea also pocketed two silver medals on the slopes of the Yabuli ski resort.

"We must understand that nations like ROK and Japan have promoted alpine skiing for around 40 years. They have all the background, they have junior programs, professional backroom staff and professional coaches, but these are all missing in China.

"We have to also build a coaching setup to work with the younger skiers, so that when they get to the national team, they have a good level that we can build on. Unfortunately, we are far behind in that aspect. We have to work on that in the future," Iliffe explained.

In the eyes of the experienced coach, competitiveness in alpine skiing is influenced by three factors: equipment, technique and the athlete's physical condition.

"We must work on these three aspects. We must also go and compete in Europe to get more experience against other nations." Iliffe said.

When talking about the team's goals at the upcoming 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the Italian coach refuses to speculate on China's chances.

"The level of alpine skiing at the moment is so high, especially among the men. What's more, the top 10 or 15 women are also at a very high level.

"The most important thing for us is to put the right setup in place, the right equipment, and get on skiing on water-injected slopes, because all the top races on the world stage are all run on water-injected slopes," Iliffe said.

After the alpine skiing event at the Harbin Asian Winter Games, the Chinese alpine skiing team will go to Songhua Lake ski resort to undertake its next training session ahead of its participation at the National Championships.

"I always tell them that they must try and perform their best; that they must work hard and believe in what they're doing," Iliffe added.

XINHUA

A banker, a construction worker, an electrician and an entrepreneur from snowy Switzerland have an unlikely shot at making Winter Olympics curling history — for the tropical Philippines.

Jamaica's bobsleigh team was immortalized in the movie Cool Runnings after taking part in the 1988 Winter Olympics.

And the "Curling Pilipinas" could be the next candidates for the Hollywood treatment, should they find themselves on the ice at Milano-Cortina in 2026.

The Swiss-Filipino men's quartet are this week gaining invaluable experience at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, their biggest stage yet.

Just two years after the launch of the country's curling federation, the men's team — whose members were all born in Switzerland to Filipino mothers — have already secured a place in Olympics pre-qualification later this year.

Unlike their full-time competitors from Asian winter sports powerhouses South Korea, Japan and China, the Philippines team members still work their day jobs.

"We are fully committed, but the money is always tight," said lead Alan Frei. "But, it's for the plot, it's for the story, right?"

Frei has spent around 30,000 euros ($31,000) on the team, which was largely self-funded before the Asian Winter Games, according to Philippines curling federation president Benjo Delarmente, who is also the squad's reserve player.

The Philippines are not intimidated going up against the best because of the team's top-tier chemistry, Frei told reporters during practice at the Harbin Pingfang District Curling Arena.

'It's always funny'

"It's just a great team dynamic," said Frei, who describes himself as an "E-commerce entrepreneur", whose online ventures have, in the past, included a sex toy store.

"We love hanging out with each other. It's always funny, we are cracking jokes. So that's our big advantage."

They also have some experience.

The other three members — electrician Enrico Pfister, his brother and construction worker Marc Pfister and banker Christian Haller — have previously competed for Switzerland at world championships.

A few years ago the trio decided to form a Philippines team, but needed a fourth member.

They contacted rookie curler Frei, 42, who had made it his life goal to become an Olympian, and had only taken up the sport after realizing he had "zero talent" for skiing.

By October 2023, they were competing — and the rest could be history.

Perfect sport for Filipinos

With temperatures in host city Harbin struggling to get above freezing, it is a far cry from the Philippines, where the mercury regularly hits 30 Celsius at this time of year.

The Philippines first sent athletes to the Winter Olympics in 1972, but sent a lone skier to the last Games in Beijing in 2022. They have never qualified anyone for a team event.

Delarmente wants to elevate curling in the Philippines, and find more talent from people of Filipino heritage around the world.

Curling is the "perfect" sport for Filipinos, he said, likening it to a combination of billiards, lawn bowls and chess on ice.

"We already have some followers in the Philippines watching our games and messaging us: 'How do we learn curling?'" Delarmente said.

"So, we're getting there.

"People are getting to know more and more about curling in the Philippines, especially (now) that we've had so much success."

Curling fan Jojo Cruz, who grew up in the Philippines, but now lives in the United States, booked a trip to Harbin.

"I still can't believe that tropical countries have the opportunity to participate in winter or snow sports", Cruz told reporters.

Cruz has lived in the US for about four decades, but said he still feels like a foreigner there at times, holding on to his roots in the Philippines.

"I still have that connection, and I don't want to lose that", said Cruz.

But, the 61-year-old, who curled for the Philippines at a senior world championship last year, failed to get tickets for the curling competitions.

Despite that, he was happy that the team was competing and said he was enjoying seeing different parts of the frigid city with his wife.

"I told myself, hey, this is a beautiful place. Harbin is nice. It's so cold, but it's fine."

AFP

While the Republic of Korea, China, and Kazakhstan claimed all nine short-track speed skating golds at the Harbin Asian Winter Games, many skaters from warmer countries were also in the spotlight, making their debuts on the international stage.

Thanutchaya Chatthaisong of Thailand competed in four short-track speed skating events despite her country's lack of natural ice and snow.

"This is our first Asian Winter Games, and I'm proud of our teamwork and progress," said the 18-year-old, who reached Final B in two events. "Training in Thailand with just one shared rink was tough, and some teammates cried during practice, but we are trying to qualify for the Winter Olympics."

Chatthaisong has spent nearly 10 years skating, and has witnessed the growth of the sport in Thailand, noting that veteran Thai skaters have set the stage for younger generations to compete at high-level events.

"More and more people in Thailand are backing us now. We're going through a tough, but positive change, and things are getting better," she added.

17-year-old Peter Groseclose, the Philippines' only short-track speed skater at the Harbin Games, expressed similar feelings to Chatthaisong.

Groseclose got used to training at public rinks in local shopping malls, and considered his semifinal appearance at the Games as "a confidence boost".

"The atmosphere here surpasses some World Cup events. China's passion for short-track is incredible. The ice sculptures and vibrant culture are unforgettable in Harbin," he said.

In China, enthusiasm for winter sports in many subtropical and tropical areas was also hugely boosted by the successful hosting of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

When Sidney K Chu raced at Beijing 2022, he was the sole short-track speed skater representing Hong Kong, China, but the squad has expanded to six at the Harbin Games, and its skaters even made it to the men's 1,500m Final B and men's 5,000m relay Final B.

"When I picked up the sport in Hong Kong, I had only 20 teammates. Now the number has hit 200. New rinks and coaching programs have been emerging in recent years," Chu, 25, noted.

"I was once jealous of people skating in Northeast China and their comprehensive training system, but now we have more and more rinks and have established our own training system," he said, eyeing a bigger goal.

"I'm looking forward to the day when Hong Kong skaters stand on the podium at an international competition."

XINHUA

Although Harbin, the capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, is now witnessing its coldest season, the city known for its ice and snow has become a hot tourist destination this winter, attracting countless visitors from across the country and abroad.

Tourists are enjoying the scenery, experiencing the local folklore, watching shows and feeling the charm of the colorful wintry feast.

Since Dec 17, the National Immigration Administration has relaxed and optimized the visa-free transit policy, extending the stay of transiting foreigners in Harbin from 72 hours to 10 days.

This policy provides more options for tourism and trade in Harbin, especially during the Asian Winter Games and the city's peak tourism season.

On Jan 5, at the 2025 Ice and Snow Tourism Development Forum, the China Tourism Academy released the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Tourism Development Report, which summarizes the content and characteristics of, and offers suggestions for the city's tourism model.

According to the report, during the ice and snow season from November 2023 to February 2024, Harbin received more than 87 million visits — an increase of 300 percent over the previous year — and achieved tourism revenue of 124.8 billion yuan ($17.1 billion), a staggering 500-percent increase.

The report also emphasizes that Harbin should strengthen global cooperation in ice and snow tourism, with the goal of establishing the city as a preferred destination for international visitors.

Before the 9th Asian Winter Games kicked off, taxi drivers had begun learning English to better serve international guests and, in anticipation of visitors' needs, the city has increased its efforts to provide more heated spaces.

Meanwhile, Harbin Polarpark debuted its penguin parade in late December, featuring 20 rare Antarctic penguins at its square.

Visitors can watch the daily parade for free, as well as new beluga whale and dolphin shows.

According to a tourist from Hunan province, "the excitement of watching the penguin parade made me feel my whole trip to Harbin was worthwhile."

Experts said the authorities in Harbin, and throughout Heilongjiang, need to seriously consider ways to promote the long-term sustainable development of ice and snow tourism.

Wang Lili, a researcher at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences and director of its regional economic research office, said: "Heilongjiang should advance its ice and snow culture, and constantly promote its creative transformation and innovative development. The province can transform the natural advantages of ice and snow into economic development."

It can also improve its smart tourism service platform and digitalize services to help launch personalized tourism consumption models for different consumer groups, she said.

"The culture and tourism department can integrate resources across the province, such as snowfields, forests, wetlands and hot springs to plan different tourism routes. The improved supply of tourism products will provide visitors with a variety of choices and extend the length of their stay in the province."

Contact the writers at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn

The ongoing Asian Winter Games proved to be a bittersweet experience for Bahrain's men's ice hockey team, which finished the Games dead last. However, as the only athletes sent by the small Gulf nation to Harbin, the tale of their Asiad journey is a moving one.

Following a crushing 34-0 loss to Kuwait in a group stage match late on Sunday, they failed to hold onto an early lead against Macao, China, in a classification match on Monday morning, ultimately losing 4-3 in overtime.

"Fatigue is the main reason we lost the game," said the team's head coach, Tamer Fuad Hasan Khalaf Fakhroo, revealing that the players had barely managed five hours of rest before the final showdown against Macao, China.

"It was a tough lesson for us, but we will not give up until we make a comeback," he added.

"We've tried our best with a shared love of the game," said an emotional Yousif Al Salah, in the mixed zone afterwards, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Everybody in this team has sacrificed something for us to be here," the 25-year-old continued.

Despite the statistics labeling them as the tournament's worst team, delving deeper into the country's ice hockey journey reveals a story worthy of respect.

A group of dedicated amateurs take time out from their day jobs to practice on the country's only ice rink — measuring just 30 meters by 15 — at the Funland bowling and ice skating center in the capital, Manama.

Every week, they make a five-hour journey to neighboring Kuwait to play in a five-on-five league.

The team's former captain, Tamer, 48, came out of retirement last month to step in as the head coach to prepare the team for the Winter Asiad.

The Bahrain Ice Hockey Federation was formed in 2009, yet the roots of the game in this country stretch back to the early 1990s. During that time, a coalition of expatriates and Bahraini players collaborated to introduce and promote ice hockey within the local community. Among these trailblazers is Tamer, who first experienced the sport during a summer visit to his brother in Germany as a teenager. He joined a junior ice hockey camp there, and in 1993, when he returned to Manama at 17, he went to Funland, then the only ice rink in his country, where he met the expats playing ice hockey.

"Try me," he said to the players there. The expats were surprised at the enthusiasm of the Manama native. They played together and volunteered to teach visitors to the rink. That's how Abdulla Mohamed Shukralla Alqasemi, a former freestyle skating enthusiast, picked up a hockey stick.

"Without gloves or other protective gear, we just played with sticks, pucks, and skates. We soon fell in love with the game," said Abdulla, who is now the team manager.

He noted that, with limited annual funding of $5,000, they have to cut costs and allocate the money strategically to develop younger ice hockey enthusiasts. As such, most of the time, the team members pay their own way to tournaments, as well as forking out of their own pockets for venue fees and equipment. The team books the ice rink every week for free public classes in a bid to encourage more people to try the niche sport.

"We welcome anyone who starts to have fun on the rink. Then everyone can try ice hockey to see if they would like it," he said.

Yousif played ice hockey in Canada — the sport's spiritual home — for two years, from the age of 15 to 17. He had stopped playing for more than five years, until two years ago, after graduating from McMaster University in Canada, he moved back to Bahrain and discovered that there was an ice hockey team in his homeland. Encouraged, he decided to pick up the stick again.

"I thought I would never play ice hockey again. I probably wouldn't have, if it weren't for all of these people who kept the game alive in Bahrain."

Reflecting on the poor results at the Games, Tamer called it "a learning experience".

"We're going to go back and start afresh. We're going to focus on the younger generation, and, hopefully, perform better at the next Asian Winter Games in 2029," he said.

Abdulla added that a standard-sized ice rink is due to be built on the island nation in the near future.

Alongside the bitter taste of defeat, though, there is a sweet side to the tournament.

For many of the players, it was their first time in China, and their stay in Harbin left a positive impression.

"This trip has completely changed my view of China," said 45-year-old Salman Sulaibeekh who was able to do some sightseeing with his wife and other family members, who came to Harbin to cheer him on. "I've never seen such a beautiful, clean metro system," he added.

From tarmac to ice, and from India to the Netherlands, former inline skater Amitesh Mishra never minds going the distance, as he harbors a dream to see India stand atop the Winter Olympics podium.

So far, so tough, as the 25-yearold, who just switched from wheels to blades three months ago, has learned the magnitude of his bold ambition the hard way at the 9th Asian Winter Games.

As much as he pushed in his two individual and two team events, Mishra, among nine longtrack skaters India sent to Harbin, did not finish even close to the podium in any of the disciplines at the Heilongjiang Ice Training Center, as the speed skating program completed its four days of action on Tuesday.

In fact, no Indian, man or woman, reached the top 15 in any of the 10 individual events they signed up for in Harbin.

The gap between India and continental powers China, Japan and Republic of Korea couldn't be more stark, let alone the higher-caliber European heavyweights, yet Mishra and his fellow teammates have opted to keep pushing anyway.

"It's really a good start," Mishra told Winter Asiad after competing in the men's team sprint alongside Chandra Mouli Danda and veteran Vishwaraj Jadeja on Monday." It's a big event, a very big stepping stone, because people who are here from other countries are already at quite a high level.

"But for me, to witness the skaters who are my idols, to skate with them, is a bit too overwhelming. The gap is too large now, but I take the positives — that I get to skate with them, and next time, I can compete with them," said Mishra.

His teammate Srivatsa Srikantha Rao, who finished 19th among 23 skaters in Tuesday's 1,000m final, echoed his sentiments.

"It was a very good experience. I felt I gained a lot from this, even though we weren't much in it. But, I gained a lot from this, and I hope me and my countrymen do better next time," said the 17-year-old.

As one of the country's emerging roller skaters, Mishra laced up for India on the continental stage for the first time at the 2018 Summer Asian Games in Indonesia, where he placed 8th in the men's 20km, and has represented his country at multiple regional and international events in the roller sport.

The inspiration from his team leader Jadeja, the oldest skater in Harbin at 39 years old, and India's first-generation roller-turned-ice-skater, has inspired Mishra and his peers to replace their wheels for blades, too.

Only by switching lanes, taking on a new sport that has little Indian representation on the world stage, at least for now, would they have the opportunity to become Olympians.

"For us, participation in winter sports is really important because there is not much awareness about winter sports in India, since it's a hot country. However, I feel everyone is interested in trying winter sports now. It's growing," Mishra said.

Similar with other countries in Asia's hot and tropical areas, Indian athletes start in makeshift conditions and have had to overcome a lack of facilities, guidance and international exposure.

The government, though, is getting the message.

For the first time in history, the country's government extended its financial support, under the Scheme for Assistance to National Sports Federations, to athletes competing at the Asian Winter Games.

An annual multi-sports domestic tournament, the Khelo India Winter Games have been held since 2020, with this year's edition having finished all the ice sports prior to the Winter Asiad, and the rest of the snow events to be staged next week after the Harbin Games.

Still, Mishra feels more could be done, citing the host China's proven success in accelerating its winter sports programs from humble beginnings to go toe-to-toe with the world's ice and snow sports superpowers.

"The government support could be better," he said. "For now, it's only for the elite level and not the grassroots."

"I think China is like an inspiration as a country, because in winter sports, I've seen so much money going into the infrastructure and the systems, where they have club-level competitions and different levels of skaters, and they go get funding.

"I think when you have a structure and infrastructure that good, and also hosting a lot of events, seeing the best athletes compete, I think that's the key to success for any country. It's bound to win."

To try and improve quickly for his Winter Asiad debut, Mishra also followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Jadeja and traveled to Europe before the 2024-25 season to seek guidance at the mecca of speed skating in Heerenveen, the Netherlands. There he enjoyed an eye-opening experience, training under double Olympic champion Nils van der Poel's coach.

At a personal cost of about $30,000, the overseas training program has paved way for Mishra's maiden Winter Asiad campaign, despite only recently shifting to ice skating.

Yet, his sights are set way beyond Harbin.

"I want to win the gold medal in the 10,000m at the 2030 Winter Olympics. It's a six-year plan," he said after Monday's race, gasping for breath, yet full of icy determination.

In a stunning debut at the Asian Winter Games, Chinese freeskier Li Xinpeng, who celebrated his 20th birthday just 10 days ago, captured two gold medals and one bronze over three days of fierce competition — delivering a performance that exceeded all expectations.

Competing in the freestyle aerials at the Games in Harbin, Li triumphed in the men's individual and the mixed team, and won bronze in men's synchro, a debut event at this year's Asiad. His performance, following his first World Cup podium appearance just last month, marks him as a rising star for China's aerials team, with expectations firmly on the rise for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

"While I'm pleasantly surprised by my results, I was of course hoping for gold," Li said after placing third in the synchro event.

"This competition has been a valuable test of my training over the past few years — a key stepping stone before Milan. I'll continue to refine my performance and aim to approach the next challenge with full focus."

Born in 2005, Li started his athletic career on a trampoline at age 8, before transitioning to skiing three years later, training in Heilongjiang. Although he has spent limited time competing in aerials, Li has quickly gained recognition in the sport.

In February of last year, Li took gold in the men's individual youth event at the 14th National Winter Games, scoring 237.66 points.

On Jan 19, at the FIS Freestyle Aerials World Cup in Lake Placid in the United States, Li earned his first World Cup podium finish, taking bronze with a score of 118.10 points in the men's final. The next day, he joined forces with Beijing 2022 Olympic champion Xu Mengtao and Sun Jiaxu to win the mixed team event, further cementing his rising star status.

On the opening day of freestyle skiing aerials at the Asian Winter Games, in a full podium sweep for the home team, Li claimed the gold medal in the men's event. His teammate, 22-year-old Yang Longxiao, took silver, while 34-year-old veteran Qi Guangpu, the Beijing Olympic champion, earned bronze.

Li's path to victory was far from smooth, though. In his first jump, a critical error resulted in a score of just 44.25 points, placing the youngster last in the field. "The wind speed and direction affected my first jump, leading to a landing mistake," Li recalled.

Despite the setback, Li received encouragement and advice from his coach and teammates. "My coach told me: 'What's done is done. Now focus on your next jump. Learn from your first round, avoid repeating the same mistakes, and enjoy the competition'," Li said.

He quickly rebounded, scoring 104.49 points on his second run, reaching the final. In the decisive round, he secured the top spot.

The Chinese team dominated the competition, with Li attributing the success to the strong legacy of China's aerials program.

"China's freestyle skiing aerials is world-class, so young athletes like me have world champions to look up to," Li said. "Thanks to years of training, and support from senior teammates, we've developed the strength we are seeing today. I feel lucky to be part of this golden era for Chinese aerials."

Ji Dong, head coach of China's aerials team, described the Asian Winter Games as a crucial step in its preparation for the Winter Olympics, offering a chance to assess the athletes' progress. The team's mix of veterans, mid-career athletes, and rising stars, like Qi, Wang Xindi, and Li, is the key to their success, he said.

During the medal ceremony, Li, Qi, and Yang proudly posed with the national flag. Qi, smiling at the rise of the younger generation, viewed the result as proof of the team's growth.

"When I was young, older athletes guided me. Now, as a veteran, I want to pass on that legacy," Qi said. "Young athletes must surpass me to ensure the future of the sport."

In Tuesday's men's synchro event, Qi and Li won bronze. Before each jump, Qi would tell Li: "Focus on your jump, I'll find your rhythm." Li credits Qi's guidance as crucial to his confidence, calling him an irreplaceable "pillar of stability" for the team.

In Monday's team event, Li, alongside Qi and Xu, delivered standout performances, helping China secure its first-ever gold medal in the aerials team competition at the Asian Winter Games.

"It's an honor to compete with two Olympic champions. I was a bit nervous at first, worried I wouldn't perform well alongside them," Li said.

"But, today, I felt much more at ease. My teammates provided constant encouragement and support, and when I struggled in previous competitions, they offered comfort, motivation and technical advice."

This was the second time Xu and Li teamed up for a mixed team event, and both times they have claimed gold.

"Our first win was in Lake Placid last month, and I was proud to witness Li's first World Cup victory. Today, we made history again. Li is a dedicated, humble and focused athlete, and I have high hopes for his future," Xu said.

So does Li. After three days of intense competition, Li expressed his commitment to continue refining his skills, so that he will arrive in Milan next year in peak form.

When Afghan snowboarder Ahmad Romal Hayat walked behind Nizaruddin Ali Zada, his teammate, student and the nation's flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the 9th Winter Asian Games in Harbin, recollections of him hiking breathlessly behind Ali Zada for hours on the mountain slopes in Afghanistan, just to make a one-minute descent, suddenly flooded his memory.

"When I was walking, I was looking at him from behind. I was remembering those steps that have brought us here," the 30-year-old said, voice cracking with emotion.

"We're not going to get any medal here, but our presence is making history."

To represent the Afghan people for the first time at the Games is a huge thing for the three snowboarders.

"We are proud that we came through a lot of suffering to reach this point, and I hope that, by making our mark on the international stage, the Afghan people, especially the young people in a country plagued by war and conflict, can see hope."

There are still no lift facilities in the mountains where the snowboarders practice. They have to hike back up to the top after each run — a tiring process.

Also, Hayat said, there aren't enough snowboards and binders.

As a teenager, he started out on a skateboard. In 2008, he was introduced to snowboarding and, in 2017, became founder of the Afghanistan Snowboarding Federation.

Between 2018 and 2021, snowboarding had become one of the fastest growing winter sports in the country, and was arguably, one of the fastest growing sports in general.

The team also received a lot of support from the international snowboarding community, Hayat said.

In 2021, the Taliban returned to power in the conflict-ravaged country, and the situation suddenly changed. For various reasons, training had become impossible, so they were forced to leave the country to train, he added.

In spite of this, Hayat was there to coach his teammate Ahmad Mushtaba Habibzi as he participated in the men's snowboard slopestyle event at Yabuli Ski Resort on Saturday. When he stood at the starting point to support Habibzi, he said he was inspired by the Games' spirit of sportsmanship.

"It doesn't matter if you can do good tricks, what matters is somebody is waiting for you, to tell you to go for it and take the opportunity to do your best," Hayat said.

Habibzi, 33, finished 10th in the men's snowboard slopestyle qualifiers.

"Please pinch me, I still cannot believe it's true," he said after his run.

In 1995, when he was just four-years-old, the Habibzi family fled Kabul for Toronto, Canada, but his journey as a snowboarder began just 10 years ago.

"In 2015, I was going through a low point in my life.

"All my Canadian friends used to go out clubbing and I didn't join them, because I don't drink alcohol. I was lonely and miserable, and it was then that I decided to take up snowboarding in my spare time," Habibzi said.

"I live in Ontario, near the Blue Mountains, and I bought a season pass and used to go regularly. Today, after 10 years, I have competed and gained enough experience to be able to proudly represent Afghanistan," Habibzi said.

He explained that he hopes their performances on the slopes can bring young, struggling Afghans hope. "They can see us here and say 'wait, these young Afghans are doing it, why can't I?' We want to give them a little bit of hope.

"It's just a matter of putting your head down and grinding. Don't take no for an answer and just keep pushing."

Habibzi said taking part in the opening ceremony of the Games was akin to a dream.

"I couldn't believe it was happening, and to be the first country to walk out. (The welcome) was so heartwarming and heartfelt. And it's just a huge accomplishment — the biggest in my life.

The team picked Ali Zada — the youngest snowboarder on the team — as the flagbearer because he represents the future of their country, Habibzi said.

At the end of the day, the team is here fighting for peace, Hayat explained.

"Actually, the world should do the same thing.

"The politicians should learn from sports. They should fight for peace and create better opportunities for the next generation."

Although the situation for snowboarders remains tough in Afghanistan, the federation still runs a training program for a group of youngsters, Hayat said.

"I am sure there will be Afghan snowboarders at the Winter Olympics in the future," Ali Zada added.

The trio's next challenge will be the men's snowboard halfpipe competitions on Wednesday.

"Now we have something on our shoulders," said Hayat. "We made history by being at the Games, but we have to keep going."

After a golden finish at the Harbin Asian Winter Games, in an exclusive interview with China Daily online show Tracking Success, Chinese speed skating ace Gao Tingyu said he will spare no effort to repeat the feat at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The Olympic champion, who won three golds in Harbin, said he was spurred on by the home crowd, and that he has an icy determination to replicate his haul in Italy next year. To find out more, click the video.

Medical services at the ongoing 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province have gained high praise from Dr Sultan Al Busaidi, chairman of the Olympic Council of Asia's Medical Committee.

"The organizing committee has exceeded expectations by prioritizing the inclusion of top-tier medical experts in the medical and health care team," Al Busaidi said at an interview on Tuesday. "We also observed the thorough consideration given to all the facilities required by the OCA to ensure the safety of the athletes."

For some intense winter sports, such as ice hockey, Al Busaidi believes specific alertness and professional training are essential.

"Upon our arrival, we were pleased to find that everything was well-prepared and met the required standards, exceeding our expectations," he said. "We were truly impressed by the healthcare arrangements, particularly the dedicated entrance for patients, ensuring quick access for competitors, OCA members, or anyone in need."

"The efficiency was evident when dealing with incidents, swiftly transporting athletes to the hospital with well-prepared medical staff ready to provide immediate care, minimizing any delays," he added.

During the interview, Al Busaidi emphasized the importance of athlete awareness and prevention of doping.

During the Games, the OCA, China Anti-Doping Agency and the Games' organizing committee have carried out an education outreach program, conducting a series of anti-doping themed activities, which aim to spread anti-doping knowledge in the form of entertainment and teaching, improving athletes' awareness and ability to consciously resist doping, spreading the concept of clean sports and promoting the ideals of sportsmanship.

"We found that the education is most important for the athletes," he said. "We need to disseminate information to the athletes to make them aware of the adverse reactions caused by doping, or the material or the medicine they are taking, which is prohibited."

Al Busaidi noted that China's anti-doping efforts have gained international acclaim, with a focus on rigorous training and investment in professional expertise.

"The dedication to maintaining high standards in anti-doping practices has earned trust and recognition, with notable contributions from CHINADA," he said.

Although Harbin, the capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, is now witnessing its coldest season, the city known for its ice and snow has become a hot tourist destination this winter, attracting countless visitors from across the country and abroad.

Tourists are enjoying the scenery, experiencing the local folklore, watching shows and feeling the charm of the colorful wintry feast.

Since Dec 17, the National Immigration Administration has relaxed and optimized the visa-free transit policy, extending the stay of transiting foreigners in Harbin from 72 hours to 10 days.

This policy provides more options for tourism and trade in Harbin, especially during the Asian Winter Games and the city's peak tourism season.

On Jan 5, at the 2025 Ice and Snow Tourism Development Forum, the China Tourism Academy released the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Tourism Development Report, which summarizes the content and characteristics of, and offers suggestions for the city's tourism model.

According to the report, during the ice and snow season from November 2023 to February 2024, Harbin received more than 87 million visits — an increase of 300 percent over the previous year — and achieved tourism revenue of 124.8 billion yuan ($17.1 billion), a staggering 500-percent increase.

The report also emphasizes that Harbin should strengthen global cooperation in ice and snow tourism, with the goal of establishing the city as a preferred destination for international visitors.

Before the 9th Asian Winter Games kicked off, taxi drivers had begun learning English to better serve international guests and, in anticipation of visitors' needs, the city has increased its efforts to provide more heated spaces.

Meanwhile, Harbin Polarpark debuted its penguin parade in late December, featuring 20 rare Antarctic penguins at its square.

Visitors can watch the daily parade for free, as well as new beluga whale and dolphin shows.

According to a tourist from Hunan province, "the excitement of watching the penguin parade made me feel my whole trip to Harbin was worthwhile."

Experts said the authorities in Harbin, and throughout Heilongjiang, need to seriously consider ways to promote the long-term sustainable development of ice and snow tourism.

Wang Lili, a researcher at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences and director of its regional economic research office, said: "Heilongjiang should advance its ice and snow culture, and constantly promote its creative transformation and innovative development. The province can transform the natural advantages of ice and snow into economic development."

It can also improve its smart tourism service platform and digitalize services to help launch personalized tourism consumption models for different consumer groups, she said.

"The culture and tourism department can integrate resources across the province, such as snowfields, forests, wetlands and hot springs to plan different tourism routes. The improved supply of tourism products will provide visitors with a variety of choices and extend the length of their stay in the province."

Azamat Adalbek is a skilled snowboarder. However, the 16-year-old from Altay prefecture in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region knows he still has a long way to go before he becomes a fur skiing pro like his father and uncle, and Azamat had been looking forward to owning a pair of fur skis tailor-made for him by his father.

The teenager's wish was fulfilled when he returned home to Meilifeng village at the foot of the Altay Mountains in January for his school's winter break. Heavy snowfall during the long winter, which often lasts from late October to early April, had created a fairytale-like atmosphere in the village of herdsmen from the Kazak ethnic group.

Azamat's father Adalbek Halengbek welcomed his son with a pat on the back and announced he had a surprise for him. As Azamat followed his father into the living room, his face lit up with pleasure when he spotted a pair of fur skis made of pinewood taking shape.

"The length of the skis has to match the user's height," said the 46-year-old as he put the tails of the skis on the floor and held them up vertically next to Azamat to make the comparison. "See, they are just perfect for Azamat. It's about time my son owned a pair of fur skis of his own and started to learn to master them."

Adalbek explained that it would take another week before the curves on the tips of the skis made of pinewood, which is tough yet lightweight and has good elasticity, can be permanently fixed. Next he will line the outer side of the skis with six to 10 strips of horsehide from the animal's lower legs, as the coat grows in the same direction and the hair is short and brittle.

When going downhill, the fur sticks to the ski, increasing the sliding speed. When going uphill, it goes against the board, increasing friction and providing an anti-slip function. The skier uses one birch-wood snow stick to maintain balance and maneuver.

"The fur skis embody the wisdom of our ancestors. And making them is not only a traditional craft, but also an important part of the local culture. It reflects the wisdom of living in harmony with nature, and is a manifestation of regional cultural diversity," Adalbek said.

In 2005, cave paintings depicting Altay people hunting on skis with poles were discovered in the Dundebulak rock art complex. Archaeologists estimate that the paintings could be more than 10,000 years old. Since then, Altay has been recognized by many as one of the birthplaces of skiing as we know it today.

Skiing is still an essential skill that the villagers master. Every household has fur skis, said Adalbek, who recently lent his fur skis to a friend who was trying to find his missing horses in the woods.

Azamat said he began snowboarding when he was 14 because he thought it was cool, but he still finds fur skiing, which not many people can master, even more exciting.

"I've decided to spend time this winter learning how to use fur skis from my father and uncle who lives next door," Azamat said. "I will upload videos of me on my own fur skis on social media, so that more people get to know about the cultural heritage that we are so proud of."

Mastering the sliding technique with fur skis and the wooden pole is actually more difficult than skiing with modern skis, said Azamat, who asked his father to give him a lesson the very next day.

The next morning, the pair set off early from home on horseback carrying fur skis borrowed from Azamat's uncle. The horses were covered with frost as temperatures dropped to more than -30 C. The animals had to tread gently in the snow, which was deep enough to cover their whole legs.

"When the snow gets deeper and even the horses are unable to walk in it, fur skis are the only means of transport to get around," Adalbek said.

Father and son made their way up a small hill where children from the village had already started to practice snowboarding. Adalbek gave Azamat some tips as they stood on top of the hill on how to slide down gracefully. Unsurprisingly, Azamat lost his balance and landed in an undignified heap as he tried to make his way down.

"He has a long way to go before he can become a fur ski pro who can take part in competitions," Adalbek said with a laugh. To preserve and promote Altay's heritage of fur skis, a series of races are held in the prefecture every winter.

The race courses involve both climbing uphill and going downhill. The skill sets needed to successfully complete such courses include endurance, technical climbing skills, and precise skiing ability, similar to the skills of ski mountaineering, which is a blend of alpine skiing and mountain climbing.

The sport, which has been included in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, made its official debut at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin on Sunday.

Buluer from Hemu village near Meilifeng said skiing on fur skis since childhood had greatly helped him to excel in ski mountaineering.

The 19-year-old from the Mongolian ethnic group has stood out as one of the most talented skiers on China's ski mountaineering men's team, winning the ski mountaineering men's sprint at the Games on Sunday. He will also take part in the mixed-team relay on Wednesday and is likely to win another gold.

Team China enjoys an upper hand in ski mountaineering in Asia, and that was evident when it swept all medals in the ski mountaineering sprint events on Sunday. However, a gap still exists between China and European powerhouses, Buluer said. "The sport is yet to be well known to all. I hope to achieve better results to contribute to its promotion to attract more people to the sport in China."

Buluer said he has been skiing on fur skis since he was six. "I would go out on fur skis on the mountains all day with my friends when I was a child. We would skip lunch and breaks because we enjoyed it so much."

In December 2021, Xinjiang formed a ski mountaineering team, and at the age of 16, Buluer became one of the first members to join the team after his fur skiing talent was spotted by scouts.

"I hope my performance can encourage more young people from the Kazak and Mongolian ethnic groups from the villages in the Altay Mountains to take on the sport, because we naturally have the grit and passion for mountain life and sports," Buluer said. "But the more places I travel to for competitions, the more I feel that the mountains and snow in my home are the best."

Zangar Kalimuhan, also from Hemu, said Buluer is a household name in the village because he is almost unbeatable in races on fur skis. "He is so fast that the one in second place wouldn't even be able to see him let alone catch up with him. And after winning gold at the Winter Asian Games, he is getting close to becoming a winter Olympics champion."

Zangar from the Kazak ethnic group is a ski patrol at Jikepulin Ski Resort in Hemu, which opens to local people for free. Winter sports have boomed in Altay in recent years as several high-standard ski resorts have been built in the prefecture, which boasts high mountainous terrain, heavy snowfall, excellent snow quality, and low winds.

The 25-year-old sometimes takes his fur skis out for practice on the modern courses in the resort, which can also help to let more people know about fur skis. "People are always curious about my skis every time I take them out. I just tell them they are the ancestors of all skis," Zangar said with pride.

With local people's determination to pass down the heritage of fur skis, and having a modern ski resort at their doorstep, Zangar said he believed that more young people from nearby villages will get the chance to become top athletes in winter sports like Buluer and shine on the international stage.

"From local fur skis champion to Winter Asian Games gold medalist, Buluer is a true inspiration for us," Zangar said.

cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn