The 21st Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Ice and Snow Nadam and Inner Mongolia Ice and Snow Heroes Festival Kick Off

On December 21, the 21st Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Ice and Snow Nadam opened at the Yimin River Cultural Leisure Corridor in Hailar District, Hulunbuir City. Under the theme "Singing and Traveling in Inner Mongolia · Joyful Ice and Snow Season," this year’s event attracted nearly ten thousand visitors and participants from Mongolia, Russia, and various regions across China.

The opening ceremony was co-directed by artist Wurina and her daughter Nuorman. It artfully integrated traditional elements such as throat singing, long-tune folk songs, ethnic dances, intangible cultural heritage displays, and sports like hockey, showcasing a dynamic blend of tradition and modernity.

For the first time, the event was held on the frozen surface of the Yimin River. The 70,000-square-meter venue was divided into a ceremonial performance area and a commercial operation zone, complementing the opposite bank’s "Furry Snow World" to create a comprehensive winter experience. The site featured an ice and snow stage, forest-themed wooden cabins, and heated Mongolian yurts, offering an immersive environment that highlighted the cultural charm of both grassland and forest.

That afternoon, the Inner Mongolia Ice and Snow Heroes Festival launched at the Canglang Bailu Ice and Snow Sports Base in Hailar. The festival featured exciting activities such as snowmobiling, ice drifting, the "Ice Pot vs. Car" challenge, and an electronic music party, creating a diverse scene that combined competitions, entertainment, commerce, and hands-on experiences.

This year's Ice and Snow Nadam is part of a broader regional initiative, featuring 5 autonomous prefecture-level key events, 11 city-league-level key activities, and 143 distinctive local events across Inner Mongolia. These efforts aim to transform the "cold resources" of ice and snow into a "hot consumption" driver for cultural and tourism growth. (By Zhang Liangcheng)