A few days ago, international students of Liaoning University hailing from Russia, Mexico, Tajikistan, Côte d’Ivoire participated in the 2026 Liaoning·Panjin China’s Northernmost Coastal Line Ice Raft Hiking Cross-Country Race, hosted by the Liaoning Provincial Sports Bureau and the People’s Government of Panjin City. The event attracted 5,000 participants from home and abroad.
The race was divided into several categories including the Public Hiking Group and the Professional Challenge Group. The international students completed the race safely and in an orderly manner. Through this sports practice, they got an up-close experience of the achievements in the development of China’s ice and snow culture, felt the charm of China’s ice and snow sports on the magnificent coastal line interwoven with ice rafts, and experienced the vigorous vitality of the integrated development of sports, culture and tourism in Liaoning in the new era.
During the race, the international students hiked forward while admiring the magnificent scenery of the ice raft tidal flats, experiencing the ecological beauty of the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Refugio, a Mexican student, said, “This is my first time participating in a hiking race on an ice raft landscape. Chinese friends kept cheering me on along the way, which made me feel extremely warm. This is not just a race, but also an unforgettable cultural experience.” Ali, a student from Tajikistan, also exclaimed excitedly, “The ice raft scenery in Panjin is absolutely spectacular. It has deepened my understanding of the natural charm of northern China in winter.”
In addition, the international students took part in the series of activities themed “Meeting from All Corners of the World · Understanding China in Liaoning – Friends from Afar Gather in Panjin to Taste and Inherit Traditions”, co-planned by the Liaoning Branch of China News Service and the Publicity Department of the Panjin Municipal Party Committee. They visited the Panjin Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Hall, where they watched the displays of traditional craftsmanship up close and took part in cultural experience activities such as calligraphy creation. Under the guidance of professional teachers, they carefully learned the brush-holding methods and writing skills of Chinese calligraphy, and wrote the Chinese character “Fu” (meaning blessing and good fortune) stroke by stroke, which symbolizes auspiciousness. Marin, a Russian student said excitedly, “This is my first time writing Chinese characters with a writing brush, and it feels really special. I want to take this ‘Fu’ character home and share the Chinese New Year blessings with my family.”
The international students also visited the Liaohe River Folk Custom Museum. Through a wealth of historical relics, pictures and textual materials, they gained a systematic understanding of the production and living methods as well as cultural traditions along the Liaohe River basin. From traditional farming tools and fishing/hunting utensils to folk life scenes and cultural inheritance stories, the students stopped frequently to communicate, deepening their comprehension of the historical memories and spiritual connotations carried by Liaohe River culture. They also took the initiative to share what they saw and felt through taking photos, making notes and having discussions, and all expressed that such activities had enabled them to form a more authentic and three-dimensional understanding of Chinese culture and feel the profound heritage of Chinese civilization.
