International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach took the opportunity to explore China's rich cultural heritage on Friday, saying that each visit to China offers him valuable learning opportunities, as he prepares to attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.
Bach was present at a banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan on Friday noon to welcome distinguished guests who are attending the Games' opening ceremony later that evening.
Prior to entering the banquet hall, Bach visited an exhibition showcasing China's intangible cultural treasures, including its exquisite birch bark craftsmanship and shell artworks, in the guests' lounge.
"It's always great at these kind of occasions to become even more familiar with Chinese culture and arts. And here in China, you can always learn something new, and I learned now about the river and the shells and those beautiful pieces. I'm always curious to know even more about China," Bach said.
Archaeological studies have found that birch bark culture has a history of over 3,000 years, and is mostly found in areas such as China, Russia and Japan as well as other countries with abundant birch resources. The traditional birch bark craftsmanship is still preserved by nomadic ethnic minorities living in northeast China.
The 9th Asian Winter Games, which will run from Feb 7-14, is bringing together more than 1,270 athletes from 34 countries and regions, making it the largest ever edition of the regional games in terms of participation.
The Games marks China's first major international ice and snow event since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
The opening ceremony is set to get underway at 20:00 local time Friday at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition, and Sports Center.
IOC president explores Chinese culture, art ahead of Harbin Asian Winter Games
IOC president explores Chinese culture, art ahead of Harbin Asian Winter Games
