On November 9, the 28th National Winter Swimming Championship 2024 kicked off at Jingpohu Lake National Scenic Spot in Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province. Nearly 700 athletes from 31 teams across 18 provinces and cities in China participated in the competition, with the oldest contestant being 70 years old and the youngest 18.

The 28th National Winter Swimming Championships of 2024 kicked off at Jingpohu Lake National Scenic Spot in Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province on November 9. Photo by Jiang Hui

At 9:00 on the 9th, the competition officially began. Jingpohu Lake National Scenic Area was in early winter, with outdoor temperatures around zero degrees Celsius. As the starting gun fired, the winter swimming "warriors" dove into the water like fish, cutting through the waves with graceful strokes and astonishing speed, swimming vigorously toward the finish line, drawing enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience.

Winter swimmers compete fiercely at Jingpohu Lake National Scenic Spot in Mudanjiang City. Photo by Jiang Hui

According to reports, the competition has set up specialized events for youth, middle-aged, elderly, and "Bulaosong" groups by age category, featuring freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle relay, and medley relay.

Mu Danjiang Municipal People's Government Vice Mayor Li Chuanzhu stated that Mu Danjiang has long been renowned for its "spectacular Jingpohu, vast snowy forests, century-old ports, and China's Snow Town." In recent years, leveraging abundant natural resources such as large lakes, expansive forests, wetlands, and ice-snow landscapes, along with a rich cultural heritage, the city has vigorously developed distinctive cultural tourism and ice-snow economy. Utilizing iconic attractions like Jingpohu—the world's largest volcanic barrier lake—and the winter fairy-tale destination China's Snow Town, Mu Danjiang has significantly elevated the reputation and influence of its tourism brand, "Spectacular Jingpohu Lake · Vast Snowy Forests." On behalf of the Jingpohu Lake scenic area, Li Chuanzhu extended a sincere invitation to people across the nation, hoping that visitors will come this winter to experience the unique charm of ice and snow at Jingpohu.

Nearly 700 athletes from 31 teams representing 18 provinces and municipalities across the country participated in the winter swimming competition. Photo by Jiang Hui

The National Winter Swimming Championships are the highest-level event in winter swimming competitions, held annually and organized by the Swimming Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Swimming Association. This year marks the first time the event is being held in Heilongjiang Province, hosted by the People's Government of Mudanjiang City. Jingpohu's unique geographical environment and climatic conditions make it highly suitable for hosting various sports events. The hosting of this championship not only promotes the deep integration of culture, sports, and tourism in Heilongjiang Province but also fuels the spirit of high-level competitive exchange and self-challenging athleticism, lending support to the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025. (End)