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World ski event returns for its 24th edition

gojilin.gov.cn | Updated: January 4, 2026
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The 24th China Changchun Jingyuetan Vasaloppet International Ski Festival opens on Jan 4 in Changchun, Jilin. [Photo/Tian Jiaxin]

The 24th China Changchun Jingyuetan Vasaloppet International Ski Festival opened on Jan 4 in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin province, marking the global season opener of the 2025-26 Worldloppet calendar.

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Skiers at the festival. [Photo/Tian Jiaxin]

The event attracted 2,227 professional athletes and recreational skiers from 33 countries and regions, including 306 overseas participants, for an international winter sports gathering. Co-hosted by the Jilin Provincial Sports Bureau and the Changchun Municipal People's Government, the festival highlights the growing integration of ice and snow sports with tourism, culture, and equipment manufacturing, injecting new momentum into high-quality regional development.

This year's edition delivered notable upgrades in both scale and professionalism, with top Worldloppet athletes competing alongside Chinese national teams at the Vasaloppet 50-kilometer race, which was held concurrently with the national cross-country skiing championships, raising competitive standards. Shorter-distance races and family-friendly experience courses further expanded public participation for skiers of all ages and skill levels.

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Skiers at the festival. [Photo/Tian Jiaxin]

With a legacy dating back to 1922 in Sweden, the Vasaloppet has evolved into the world's longest-running and largest long-distance cross-country ski race. Since its introduction to the Changchun Jingyue High-tech Industrial Development Zone in 2003, the event has attracted over 1.2 million participants, establishing itself as one of China's most influential winter sports brands.