As the 9th Asian Winter Games wrap up in Harbin, China’s frosty “Ice City,” all eyes are on this year’s fierce mascots: a trio of Siberian tigers named “Binbin,” “Nini,” and “Yaya.” But these cuddly yet mighty tigers aren’t the first mascots to rep China’s creative spirit at the Games—they’re part of a quirky legacy!
Rewind to the 3rd Asian Winter Games in 1996, also hosted in Harbin. The star mascot? A playful soybean named “DouDou,” nodding to the region’s agricultural roots. While today’s tiger mascots symbolize strength and regional wildlife, DouDou reminded the world of northeast China’s role as a farming powerhouse.
Why the shift from legumes to predators? Mascots often mirror a host city’s identity. Harbin’s 2025 Games spotlight its wild frontiers and ecological pride, while the ’90s era celebrated its economic backbone. Either way, these characters are more than cute faces—they’re cultural time capsules.
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But these cuddly yet mighty tigers aren’t the first mascots to rep China’s creative spirit at the Games—they’re part of a quirky legacy!
While today’s tiger mascots symbolize strength and regional wildlife, DouDou reminded the world of northeast China’s role as a farming powerhouse.
