The flame for the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 was lit on 20 January 2025, at the Sun Stone Square, a landmark of the Sun Island Scenic Area in Harbin, coinciding with the solar term of Greater Cold, a prelude to the seasonal change from winter to spring.

Mr Xu Qin takes over the lighter torch and displays the flame.

The Torch Lighting Ceremony was attended by Mr Xu Qin, Secretary of the CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee and Head of the Heilongjiang AWG Preparation Leading Group; Ms Liang Huiling, Governor of Heilongjiang Provincial People’s Government and President of HAWGOC; Mr Li Jing, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China; Mr Song Luzeng, Vice President of the OCA; and Ms Ding Ning, Chair of the Athletes’ Committee of the OCA. It was presided over by Yu Hongtao, Secretary of the CPC Harbin Municipal Committee and Vice President of HAWGOC.

Ms Liang Huiling announces the start of the ceremony.

At 11:00, the event was kicked off with the children’s chorus A Warm World of Ice and Snow on the snow-covered Sun Island. Ms Liang Huiling declared the start of the ceremony. The honour guards then escorted the national flag of the People’s Republic of China and the OCA flag onto the site, accompanied by the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China and the OCA anthem.

Flame collectors fan out around the lighter stand as one of them ignites the flame.

A flame collector holds high the lighter torch.

Nine flame collectors, wearing white down coats and red scarves, walked from behind the Sun Gate in succession. They fanned out around the lighter stand as one of them ignited the flame and then presented it to Mr Xu Qin. Mr. Xu took over the lighter torch and held it high for others to see. After flame attendants married the flame into the safety lantern, the lighting ceremony successfully concluded with the exit of the flame. The Online Torch Relay was launched simultaneously.

It is learned that the Physical Torch Relay will start on 3 February in the Chinese Baroque Historical and Cultural Block in Harbin.

Other attendees of the ceremony included provincial government leaders Han Shengjian and Qian Fuyong, Mayor of Harbin Wang Hesheng, provincial government department leaders, and representatives of volunteers.