Visitors are ice carting on the ice rink inside Summer Palace in Beijing. Photo: VCG

The ice skating performance of "Eight Banners soldiers" in Beihai Park Photo: VCG

While the winter chill settled in, the ice rinks of Beijing have come to life, offering various ice-related activities for locals and tourists alike. In the heart of the city, dozens of major ice rinks have opened to the public, rekindling the joy of winter sports.

At the Beihai Park ice rink, a magnificent spectacle unfolded as performers, adorned in colorful uniforms to represent different divisions of the imperial army of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), known as the eight banners, graced the ice. The activity is called bingxi (lit: playing on the ice). It used to be an imperial activity during the Qing Dynasty, but now visitors have the opportunity to experience the tradition through local performances.

The scene echoed the grandeur of traditional Beijing ice activities, combining historical reenactments with a contemporary twist.

In addition to the professionals, amateurs, and enthusiasts of ice skating also reveled in the vast frozen expanses, showcasing their skills on the ice. Even those unfamiliar with skating, can also partake in the fun as the ice rinks offer a variety of activities, including ice carts, ice slides, ice motorcycles, and more. 

The allure of winter activities in the capital proved irresistible.

Embracing tradition

The passion for ice sports among Beijing residents has deep historical roots. 

Over centuries ago, during the Qing Dynasty, ice games were more than just a pastime; they were a cultural celebration. At the time, Ice and Snow Sports Meetings would be hosted every year and they were akin to the modern Winter Olympics. With numerous imperial ice rinks and a dedicated group from the then Ice Skate Bureau, people from the Qing Dynasty period cultivated excellence in ice activities. And every winter, the imperial court held grand ice sports events in Beijing. Ice archery, ice hockey, speed skating, solo and pair figure skating, and various ice performances were showcased, with children delighting audiences with intricate routines.

Historical poems and paintings document these festivities very clearly: Emperor Qianlong composed ancient poems about ice games, while artists like Jin Kun, Cheng Zhidao, and Fu Long'an depicted the Eight Banners soldiers engaging in ice games in their paintings. 

Beihai Park, also known as the "Winter Palace," has retained its allure through the ages, continuing to attract crowds every winter. This winter, Beihai Park unveiled a 15,000-square-meter ice rink on its Lotus Flower Lake, hosting ice activities from December 28, 2023, to February 4, 2024.

The ice rink comprises two areas: the mixed zone featuring ice carts, and an area for ice bicycles.

In addition to the lively ice entertainment, the park also organized two cultural events,

a traditional performance of the "Eight Banners soldiers," and world-class performances by figure skating world champions.

Through the display of winter sports and culture, the park aimed to promote the spirit of the Winter Olympics and popularize ice-related activities. With this goal in mind, Zhang Hao, figure skating world champion, was appointed as the ambassador for Beihai Park's ice culture activities. On the Lotus Flower Lake ice rink, Zhang treated the audience to world-class performances, providing shows blending tradition and modernity in Beijing's winter wonderland.

Another angle

There's no better way to enjoy the beauty of this ancient capital in winter than gliding on its ice rinks. This winter's extreme temperatures have rapidly transformed many of the city's lakes and water reservoirs into solid ice surfaces, thus providing attractive spaces for winter activity lovers.

In addition to imperial gardens such as Beihai Park and the Summer Palace, where natural beauty transpires from hills and lush vegetation, there is another popular lake that offers a bustling street vibe: Shichahai Lake, an iconic touristic attraction surrounded by historical landmarks and especially famous for its traditional Chinese architecture.

Shichahai Lake is the core of the Beijing section of the UNESCO cultural heritage Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, or the Jinghang Waterway, which has been there since the Sui Dynasty (581-618).

With the opening of the city's new Grand Canal museum in Beijing's sub-center Tongzhou district last week, the canal history, which was vital in prompting ancient China's economy, culture and social development, came under the limelight again after the opening of the Yangzhou and Luoyang Grand Canal museums.

Being an important part of canal history and Shichahai Lake is considered as "the source of the city, the beginning of the capital, as well as the end of the Grand Canal," with an old saying going: "First there was Shichahai, and then there was Beijing."

During the three-day New Year's Day holidays, residents have been seen waiting in line to step onto the ice rink where a variety of winter sports are offered. 

On the bank of one side of the lake, new creative cultural products are also available this year inside the boutique shops. "I've been collecting the Grand Canal-related products for years and have always wanted to come here to have a look as well," Wang, a young local visitor, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Public data show that the Shichahai ice rink receives tens of thousands of people every year. Being one of the key places in Beijing to carry out winter sports activities, the area of the Shichahai ice rink this year has been expanded to 160,000 square meters.

"We have single and double seats ice sleighs, ice bicycles for fun, and we also provide speed skating areas for semi-professionals. In addition, a skating training area of nearly 5,000 square meters has been set up and equipped with professional skating coaches as well," a local staff told the Global Times on Sunday.