Xinhua News Agency client, Harbin, November 10th. On November 9th, the 28th National Winter Swimming Championships of 2024 were held at Jingpohu Lake National Scenic Area in Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province. Attendees at the opening ceremony included Xu Qi, Director of the Social Activities Department of the Swimming Sports Management Center under the General Administration of Sport of China; Guo Yutian, Deputy Director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Sports Bureau; Li Chuanzhu, Vice Mayor of the People's Government of Mudanjiang City; and Li Zhiyu, Director of the Track and Field & Water Sports Management Center of the Heilongjiang Provincial Sports Bureau.

At the opening ceremony, Li Chuanzhu, Vice Mayor of the Mudanjiang Municipal People's Government, stated that Mudanjiang boasts an excellent ecological environment, a borderland and coastal location, and rich cultural heritage. It is recognized as a China Outstanding Tourism City, one of China's Top Ten Most Livable Cities, among China's Top 100 Competitive Tourism Cities, one of China's Top Ten Leisure Cities with Distinctive Features, and one of China's Top Ten Ice and Snow Tourism Cities. Renowned for its "scenic Jingpohu, snow-covered forest sea, century-old port, and China Snow Town," it is celebrated as "the Jiangnan of the North amid the forest and snow, a land of fish and rice between the white mountains and black waters." In recent years, leveraging abundant natural resources such as vast lakes, forests, wetlands, and ice-snow landscapes, along with profound cultural heritage, Mudanjiang has vigorously developed distinctive cultural tourism and ice-snow economy using its iconic attractions like Jingpohu—the world's largest volcanic lava barrier lake—and the fairy-tale winter wonderland of China Snow Town. This has continuously elevated the reputation and influence of Mudanjiang's tourism brand, "Scenic Jingpohu·Snow-Covered Forest Sea."

At 9 a.m., the competition officially began at the Diaoshuilou Waterfall of Jingpohu. The event featured specialized races categorized by age groups: Youth Group, Middle-Aged Group, Senior Group, and Evergreen Group. The competitive events included freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle relay, and medley relay.

The National Winter Swimming Championships represent the highest level of competition in winter swimming and are held annually. Organized by the Swimming Administration Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Swimming Association, this year marks the first time the event is hosted in Heilongjiang Province, with the Mudanjiang Municipal People's Government as the organizer. Nearly 700 athletes from 31 teams across 18 provinces and cities in China participated. The oldest competitor was 70 years old, while the youngest was 18. In the intense and fierce competition, both seasoned veterans and rising newcomers demonstrated remarkable perseverance and exceptional skills, embodying the sportsmanship of "pushing personal limits" through their performances. The event delivered a spectacular feast of athleticism and determination for the audience.

The unique geographical environment and climate conditions of Jingpohu Lake make it highly suitable for hosting various sports events. In recent years, the area has successfully planned and organized a series of influential, high-level ice and snow sports events, including this championship, effectively leveraging the leading role of the scenic area and the exemplary impact of the "National Sports Tourism Demonstration Base." The hosting of this championship not only contributes to promoting sports culture, invigorating tourism development, and facilitating the deep integration of culture, sports, and tourism in Heilongjiang Province, as well as upgrading the tourism industry, but also adds momentum and brilliance to the 9th Asian Winter Games through high-level competitive exchanges and the sportsmanship of challenging personal limits.