Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin on Friday with a dazzling ceremony celebrating ice, snow, and Asian unity. Over 8,000 fans cheered as Xi declared the Games open alongside International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, marking the start of Asia’s biggest winter sports event this year.
🔥 The opening’s highlight? A star-studded torch relay! Two-time Olympic short track champ Yang Yang, freestyle skiing pioneer Han Xiaopeng, race walk legend Wang Zhen, and speed skating icon Zhang Hong lit a lilac-shaped cauldron at Harbin Ice and Snow World—the planet’s largest ice theme park—with kids holding glowing ice lanterns. Talk about cold fire! ❄️✨
Running through Valentine’s Day (💘 Feb 7–14), the Games’ slogan \"Dream of Winter, Love among Asia\" reflects China’s growing role in global winter sports after hosting the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. This is Harbin’s second time hosting the event since 1996, solidifying its rep as a winter wonderland capital.
