China's winter sports equipment experiences green innovation, market expansion

China's winter sports equipment market is gaining momentum in expansion by focusing on green innovation and attracting international buyers.

This winter, companies in Qitaihe City in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province are ramping up their production to meet the growing demand for winter sports equipment.

They are investing in technological reforms and developing new products such as helmets and blade supports, with a particular emphasis on customized services.

For example, ice skates produced in the city are now using carbon fiber, which enhances both comfort and performance.

"Our customized skates are made of carbon fiber material, offering good fit and comfort," said Zhu Degui, a technical staff member from a local sports equipment enterprise. 

In 2024, the recognition of Qitaihe's ice skate products in the international market was increased significantly.

The city has established partnerships with countries like Hungary, Russia, and Canada, selling over 30,000 pairs of winter sports equipment, marking a 10 percent increase from the previous year.

"We have built an ice and snow economic industrial park and introduced relevant enterprises. In the next step, we will take the 9th Asian Winter Games as an opportunity to help enterprises extend the industrial and supply chains, expand the market, and fully promote the rapid development of the ice and snow economy," said Li Shuning, director of Culture and Tourism Bureau of Taoshan District in the city.

In east China's Zhejiang Province, Ninghai County of Ningbo City also has a deep-rooted ski pole industry which has grwon significantly.

The town of Shenzhen in Ninghai is home to 34 ski pole manufacturers, producing over 15 million poles annually. 

This accounts for 60 percent of the global market share, with products mainly exported to Europe and North America. 

Data indicates that the town's sports rod industry generates over 920 million yuan (about 130 million U.S. dollars) annually, comprising more than 75 percent of the national total for similar products. 

More than 90 percent of this value is derived from exports, primarily to the United States, Germany, France, and other European and American markets.

"After more than 20 years of development, our town has formed a complete industrial chain system to achieve a good trend of cluster development in the region," said Chen Yunsong, the town mayor.

China's winter sports equipment experiences green innovation, market expansion

Commemorations honoring Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs were held on the banks of the Yalu River in Dandong, Liaoning Province on Tuesday as part of ongoing tributes to those who fought in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953).

The event was held to mark the return of the remains of 12 CPV martyrs, who were killed in the war, from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

This will be the 13th such repatriation of CPV remains following the handover agreement between the two countries. Since 2014, the remains of 1,011 soldiers have been returned to China from the ROK, according to China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs.

More than 170 representatives, including veteran CPV soldiers, relatives of the martyrs, active-duty personnel, students, and other from various sectors of society, attended the event.

People boarded a ferry which slowly sailed down the Yalu River. Inside the cabin, all present stood in solemn silence as the national anthem of the People's Republic of China was played, and observed a moment of silence in honor of the CPV martyrs.

Then, they walked to the ship's railings one by one and scattered flower petals into the river to pay tribute to the martyrs.

"We, the CPV, went abroad to fight to defend our motherland, the people, and our good life and to resist U.S. imperialist aggression against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). I hope that our young comrades and students today will study hard and make contributions to our motherland," said Hu Changzhe, a CPV veteran.

"I feel deeply moved as these veteran soldiers are heroes who once fought for our country. Now, standing by the Yalu River, looking back on their past and remembering their comrades, they must be deeply touched," said Hong Jialu, a student at a branch of Liaoning Province Shiyan High School.

At the event, 10 student representatives from primary and middle schools read aloud a letter to express their reverence and remembrance for the heroic martyrs through their sincere words and heartfelt recitation.

The Korean War broke out in June 1950, eight months after the People's Republic of China was founded. At the request of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), China sent 2.9 million CPV soldiers to assist the DPRK during the war, of whom more than 360,000 were killed or injured.

Commemorations held to pay tribute to CPV heroes in northeast China