Chinese speed skater Ning Zhongyan is setting his sights even higher after being roared on to victory by home fans at the ongoing Asian Winter Games in northeast China's "ice city" of Harbin, saying he is now targeting glory at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
The 25-year-old Ning had the honor of serving as one of the Chinese delegation's flagbearers during Friday night's opening ceremony, before going on to clinch three gold medals in the men's 1,000m, 1,500m, and team sprint competitions, notably shattering the Asian record in the 1,500m discipline.
Reflecting on these impressive achievements, Ning expressed gratitude to his family, friends, and fans for their support and encouragement, and recalled the incredible atmosphere he felt as the home crowd cheered him on for his historic win on Saturday.
"[There were] many people watching the race at the ice rink and also there were many Chinese [fans] and also my mother and father were here watching my race. It was a really exciting feeling and amazing [to see all] the people watching the race and every time I can hear [them shouting] 'jiayou' ['come on!']. My body is in really, really good condition. And also, [to win] the gold medal and [break] the Asian track record, [I'm] so happy," he said.
Born in Heilongjiang Province, of which Harbin is the capital, Ning noted he has trained at the Harbin speed skating ice rink for over a decade, making his record-breaking performance in this venue all the more special.
In gearing up for the event, the skating star said he had joined an international training club, where he has received valuable coaching and built camaraderie with fellow skaters.
His teammate, Han Mei, has also made waves with a triple medal haul of her own in Harbin, helping give Team China its best ever speed skating showing at an Asian Winter Games, and Ning is confident the Chinese skating team will continue to perform well on the global stage.
Ning finished fifth at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games and is in good form after winning four silver and four bronze medals during the current 2024-2025 ISU World Cup season.
Given his strong recent showing, the young speed skater says he is now looking ahead to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics with high hopes.
"I want to make a new track record and keep focused and keep challenging myself. Also my body condition is good, and, of course, I already make a new track record and Asian record," said Ning.
The week-long Asian Winter Games has gathered over 1,200 competitors from 34 countries and regions, making this the largest ever edition of the event in terms of overall participation.
Record-setting speed skating star aims high after Asian Games triumph
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
