Skiing, ice skating, winter swimming, ice fishing… In Yinchuan, Ningxia, known as the "Lake City Beyond the Great Wall," many people engage in various outdoor sports in the icy and snowy conditions to unleash their enthusiasm for winter.
In the depths of winter, temperatures in Yinchuan can drop to minus ten degrees Celsius or lower, and lakes are all frozen over. At Beita Lake in Yinchuan, reporters saw that besides citizens leisurely walking or skating on the ice, a speed skating team composed of more than 30 retired workers was also training on the lake.
In the depths of winter, temperatures in Yinchuan can drop to minus ten degrees Celsius or lower, and lakes are all frozen over. At Beita Lake in Yinchuan, reporters saw that besides citizens leisurely walking or skating on the ice, a speed skating team composed of more than 30 retired workers was also training on the lake.
Shi Linming, the captain of this speed skating team, explained that the team is entirely formed voluntarily by retired workers who regularly train on the ice at locations such as Beita Lake and Zhongshan Park. “We take advantage of the one-month-plus ice period to skate—not for anything else, just to exercise, loosen our joints, and stay healthy,” he said.
Chen Huachen, 78, is also a member of the speed skating team. The various speed skating postures he demonstrated were unbelievable. The elderly man told reporters, “I’ve loved sports since I was young—swimming in summer and skating in winter. Outdoor sports bring you closer to nature and are the healthiest way to exercise.”
Besides ice skating and skiing, ice fishing by chiseling holes in the ice is another way ice fishing enthusiasts enjoy the snowy season. It is understood that there are nearly 200,000 acres of artificial water bodies (including aquaculture waters) around Yinchuan, with about 50,000 fishing enthusiasts. Every winter, the ice surfaces of lakes large and small in Yinchuan become bustling with activity.
The recently concluded National Ice Fishing Invitational Tournament at Hetan Lake in Yinchuan attracted more than 220 ice fishing enthusiasts from multiple provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions to showcase their angling skills. Wu Qing, an ice fishing enthusiast, said, “Ice fishing is more challenging than regular fishing, but that’s precisely where the fun lies. Whether it’s chiseling the ice, setting up the gear, or reeling in or loosening the line, being out on the ice makes you forget the cold. The feeling of ‘fishing alone in the cold river and snow’ is truly delightful.”
In recent years, Ningxia has actively developed its unique winter natural resources. Events such as ice and snow festivals, ice fishing competitions, and ice dragon boat races have provided platforms for citizens to engage in winter recreational sports.
