Zhangjiakou residents exhibit spirit of Games

Tang Jingwei, 62, and his 5-year-old grandson are skating like the wind these days at an ice rink in downtown Zhangjiakou, Hebei province.

"Thanks to the Winter Olympics, I've rekindled my love for skating," said Tang, a retired factory worker. "I go skating more often than before because Zhangjiakou has many well-equipped ice rinks. In summer, I bring my grandson to indoor venues."

As the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games kicked off, the citizens of Beijing's co-host city Zhangjiakou, like Tang, have been embodying the Olympic spirit in their own way as they celebrate the event.

Tang fell in love with skating as a teenager and often glided on the frozen river with his friends. As their heavy cotton-padded trousers often got wet as a result, they had to burn firewood to dry their clothes before going home.

At the age of 18, he spent 52 yuan－nearly three months' salary－on a pair of ice skates. He recalled that he stopped skating when he was in his 30s, as there were few proper ice rinks back then.

In 2015, when Beijing won the bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tang had just retired and had lots of spare time.

Since then, Zhangjiakou has been striving to develop its winter sports industry by building more ice rinks and ski resorts to encourage the general public to engage in such activities.

Tang managed to dig out his old, cherished ice skates, carefully applied oil to them and had them sharpened, and he still uses them today.

His grandson has also become an avid fan of skating, and the duo often spend entire days at the ice rink.

Chen Zhenjiang, 60, said he is also proud that his hometown is co-hosting the Winter Olympics.

"I really enjoy myself when I glide on the ice. I'm glad to see that many children are going skating, and I voluntarily teach them some skills," said Chen, who has improved his skating knowledge by watching short videos online.

"The Winter Olympics has boosted the skating craze here. With better ice rinks and skating gear, amateurs like me should take such opportunities to improve our skills."

After sending his grandson to kindergarten in the morning, Wu Wanying, 60, exercises in a park every day by wielding a long whip attached to a "yellow cloth dragon", which flutters in the air as it is swung in various patterns.

The device is called a "bodybuilding dragon" and is popular among older people. He bought one online to strengthen his neck, shoulders and waist, and said it has had an obvious effect on his health.

"My companions and I－over 20 of us who play the dragon－we all wanted to apply to be volunteers for the Winter Olympics. It's such a pity that there was an age limit," said Wu, who used to be a farmer.

With Zhangjiakou organizing various folk performances to celebrate the Games, Wu and his companions have participated in volunteer performances with other groups of seniors.

"We're very honored to demonstrate our abilities during the Winter Olympics," he said.

Inheritors of intangible cultural heritage in Zhangjiakou have also created artworks to celebrate the Games.

While craftspeople from Yuxian county have made paper-cutting art with Winter Olympic themes, Gui Weifeng has knitted a large, white traditional Chinese knot in the shape of a six-petal snowflake, adorned with the five colors of the Olympic rings.

Another craftsperson, Chen Zhiwang, has carved and painted pictures with Games themes, including vivid portraits of athletes on stones from the Daqing River in Zhangjiakou.

"I just want to use the local stones to send my wishes for the Winter Olympics," Chen said.