With just over a month remaininguntilthe opening of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025, the Games preparationshaveentered a critical hase, transitioning from the regularwork mechanism to the Games-time operationmechanism. The reliminary infrastructure construction has been largely completedand a series of test events have been uccessively conducted.
On 23 December 2024, Bai Zhiguo, Deputy SecretaryGeneral of the9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025Organising Committee and Director of the Harbin Sports Bureau, announced that the overall Games preparationsare on track, withkey milestones being met as planned.As of 30October, all venues(stadiums) and renovated hotels hadpassed final inspections. Additionally, six railway infrastructure projectshave been completed and are now in service, including the expansion of Yabuli West Railway Station, the comprehensive renovation of Yabuli South Railway Station, and the renovation of Harbin-Yabuli tourist trains. The main constructionof the East Second Runway of Harbin Taiping International Airport has also been finalised, with operations set to commence on 24January 2025.
According to the Master Plan for Test Events of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin2025, atotal of 14 test events are scheduled from October 2024 to January 2025, said Bai. To date, thanks to the efficient coordination of the competition venuesteams,seven test eventshave been successfully held, covering Short Track Speed Skating, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Men’s Ice Hockey, Women’s Ice Hockey, Curling, and Alpine Skiing.
Support services in all areas are essentially in place. Arrivalsand Departuresteams have been assembled and will be stationed at airports, railway stations, and recommended entry and exit ports, with flow lines and service points established. Clearance protocols and facilitation measureshave been defined. The Arrivalsand Departures System was launchedon 6December2024. To enhance connectivity betweenthe Harbin Cluster and the Yabuli Cluster, railway services will be expanded, with three Harbin 2025 sightseeing trainsin operation, and from mid-January 2025,the number of trains from Harbin to Yabuli will be increased to 40 per day.
Wang Keshuai, Deputy Chief Directorof the Yabuli Operations Centre,detailedthat according to the plan, the Yabuli Cluster will host three sports, with 32 events across six disciplines. Eightstadiumshave been upgraded and now meet the Asian Winter Gamesstandards. Additionally, 14 designated hotels have beenupgraded, along with the reconstruction and expansion of the Yaxue Highway and the upgrading of threerailway station buildings and station squaresin Yabuli.
Yabuli Ski Resort is a famous skiing destination in China. Wang mentioned that in addition to Harbin 2025, a series of recreationalice and snow events will also be held in Yabuli, which will bolster the Yabuli brand and drivethe high-quality growth of the ice and snow economy.