The 23rd China Changchun Jingyuetan Vasaloppet International Ski Festival opened in Changchun, the capital of Northeast China's Jilin province, on Saturday. The event brought together over 2,000 professional athletes and ski enthusiasts from 33 countries across the globe, including China, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Finland, and Germany.
In addition to the 50-kilometer and 25-kilometer cross-country skiing events, the festival also featured new short-distance races of six-kilometer, 1.5-kilometer, and a 300-meter experience race, catering to a wider range of skiing abilities.
"It's very happy to win the women's 25-kilometer championship. Especially when the scenes around here are so beautiful, it feels so great," said Ma Qinghua, women's 25-kilometer champion.
"It's very warm today, a very good weather. And Jilin is particularly beautiful, the people here are very kind," said Hadesi Badelihan, men's 25-kilometer champion.
The Vasaloppet International Ski Festival, originating in Sweden, is one of the world's largest cross-country skiing events. In 2003, Vasaloppet China was introduced in Changchun, becoming the fourth global venue for the festival after Sweden, Japan and the United States.
Since 2014, Vasaloppet China has been an official member of Worldloppet, the world's premier long-distance cross-country skiing organization. Over the past decade, Jingyuetan has become a hub for elite skiers from around the world. Located in the golden latitude zone of ice and snow, Jilin is one of the three major powder snow bases in the world.
In addition to the Vasaloppet festival, Jilin has also hosted high-level international skiing events including the International Ski Federation (FIS) Freestyle Ski World Cup events.
Jilin has issued a new round of ice-snow season consumption vouchers worth a total of 100 million yuan (13.6 million U.S. dollars). The coupons can be used for a wide range of winter sports and tourism activities across the province's five national-level ski resorts.
"I'm just dropping by and taking a look around, and I see so many cultural and creative products here. I'll bring some back to my family," said Yang Shiying, a tourist.
Several specialized exhibition areas such as "snow street" winter fairs across the ski resorts will remain open until the Lunar New Year, with the resorts continuously enriching their snow-themed offerings from equipment to local delicacies, providing diverse winter cultural experiences for both local residents and visitors.
23rd Vasaloppet Int'l Ski Festival opens in Changchun
23rd Vasaloppet Int'l Ski Festival opens in Changchun
23rd Vasaloppet Int'l Ski Festival opens in Changchun
