Chaoyang, January 14 – The 2025–2026 Ice Dragon Super League (Chaoyang Stop, Liaoning) took place on January 14. Guided by the International Ice Dragon Boat Federation and China Culture Industries Promotion Association, and supported by Liaoning Provincial

Sports Bureau, the event is hosted by the Dragon Boat Culture Professional Committee of China Culture Industries Promotion Association and

the People’s Government of Chaoyang City, and undertaken by Chaoyang Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio and Television.

A total of over 500 athletes from 19 open-category teams across the country including Beijing, Hebei, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Anhui,

Hunan, Guangdong, Yunnan, Tianjin and Inner Mongolia, together with 13 local elite teams from Chaoyang, took part in the competition.

On that day, cheers and shouts echoed across the frozen Shijiazi River in Chaoyang, Liaoning. Athletes displayed breathtaking speed and dynamism in events including the 200-meter straight race for 12-person ice dragon boats, the 100-meter straight race for 5-person ice dragon boats, and the 400-meter drifting turn race for 12-person ice dragon boats.

Different from traditional water dragon boats, ice dragon boat athletes propel their vessels forward on solid ice by striking the ice

with ice poles. Water dragon boating relies mainly on leg strength, whereas ice dragon boat racing places greater demands on core

stability and upper-body power. On the racecourse, drums thunder loudly as ice poles swing swiftly. The boats dash ahead like arrows on the glistening ice track, and the

thrilling contest of strength and skill holds spectators spellbound.

Beyond the race venue, the concept of “Travel with Events” has been vividly realized. The organizing committee arranged for participating athletes to visit Chaoyang Bird Fossil National Geopark. Amidst their competitive

schedule, athletes from across the country immersed themselves in the profound heritage of this world treasure of paleontological fossils,

witnessing the wonders of billions of years of biological evolution, and experiencing a unique journey from the passion of ice sports

to the mysteries of ancient civilization.

Meanwhile, a strong festive atmosphere pervaded the venue. Along the riverbank, the fragrant aroma of steaming local Chaoyang

iron pot stew filled the air, dispelling the winter chill and stimulating consumption of distinctive Northeast Chinese cuisine. The seamless integration of the event with local culture and characteristic consumption scenarios enabled every participant to fully

experience the warm winter charm and urban vitality of Chaoyang, while enjoying top-level competitive sports.

Up to now, the Ice Dragon Super League has evolved from a distinctive ice and snow competition into an important industrial and

cultural platform. Through an innovative integrated model of sports, cultural tourism and consumption, it has effectively activated

winter tourism resources and boosted related consumption in catering, accommodation and tourism. More importantly, the league serves as a dynamic vehicle for the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional

Chinese culture, breathing new life into dragon boat culture amid ice and snow.