Traditional competitions celebrate ethnic culture

After completing her daily coaching session for speed skaters, and despite fatigue setting in, Xu Xinxin often remains on the ice to continue practicing in preparation for the eastern division of the 2026 Heilongjiang Border Sports Games.

Part of the Heilongjiang Ice and Snow Sports Super League, the games are divided into eastern, central, and northern divisions.

"When I learned that the eastern division, which kicks off on Tuesday in Mishan city, had a speed skating event, I signed up immediately," says the 28-year-old former national speed skating athlete and now a skating coach. "Despite leaving the competition scene 10 years ago, I hope to achieve good results as the competition is being held in my hometown.

"More importantly, I want to experience the happiness and joy that competitions bring once again."

The Mishan event features snow soccer, speed skating, snow tug-ofwar, and a fun curling competition, with six teams from the cities of Mishan, Hulin, Suifenhe, Muling, Dongning, and Jidong county competing.

The 2026 Heilongjiang Border Sports Games officially began on Jan 23, when the central division opened on the frozen Xiuen Lake in Jiejinkou Hezhe Ethnic Town in Tongjiang city. The event attracted six teams from Tongjiang, Fuyuan, Raohe county, Suibin county, Luobei county, and Jiayin county.

Tongjiang, a major settlement area for the Hezhe ethnic group and a border port city, has abundant natural ice and snow venues. It is also home to the millennia-old fishing and hunting traditions of the Hezhe ethnic group, which are recognized as intangible cultural heritage.

Rooted in regional and ethnic characteristics, the Tongjiang event was organized into three main sections, including team-based competitions like snow soccer, as well as traditional ice sports like spinning tops and snow tug-of-war, which test skill and endurance.