Games South Korea's Kim Kyeong-ae (L) and Seong Ji-hoon are in action during the mixed doubles curling final against Japan at the Asian Winter Games at the Harbin Pingfang Curling Arena on Feb. 8, 2025.

Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

The lit cauldron of the 9th Asian Winter Games is pictured at the Harbin Ice and Snow World Park during the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Asian Winter Games began with an opening ceremony in Harbin, China, featuring 34 participating countries across 11 sports.

Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin on Friday night during a festive ceremony highlighting the city's ice and snow culture. Over 8,000 spectators at the Harbin International Conference,

HARBIN - As the night sky over Harbin glows with the lights of the Asian Winter Games opening ceremony, 20-year-old Liu Mengting will take center stage - not on the slopes where she usually soars, but at the helm of Team China, leading her fellow athletes into the spotlight as the host country's flagbearer.

Bai Zhiguo, a deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee of the 9th Asian Winter Games and the chief spokesperson, speaks during a press conference held by the OCA and the organizing committee of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China on Thursday. Asia News Network

Iranian athelets took part at the opening ceremony of 2025 Asian Winter Games which officially kicked off on Friday at Harbin International Convention Exhibition and Sports Center in Harbin, China.

Li's journey to the top hasn't been without challenges. Ahead of the 2024 National Winter Games, she fractured her collarbone for the third time but still managed to secure silver in the women's freeski halfpipe open category.

China's Li Fanghui secured the host nation's first gold medal at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, triumphing in the women's freeski halfpipe event at the Yabuli Ski Resort on Saturday.