Changchun lights one-year countdown to Winter Universiade

The One-Year Countdown to Changchun 2027 33rd Winter Universiade began on Jan 15, marking a new phase in preparations for the global university winter sports event and extending an ice-and-snow invitation to young people worldwide.

The games will bring together student-athletes from more than 50 countries and regions to compete on Changchun's winter stages.

The launch ceremony opened at 5:30 pm with an energetic dance performance. Dynamic lighting, music, and choreography quickly ignited the atmosphere, while audiences and guests revisited Changchun's cityscape through large on-site screens.

A short film showcasing progress in venue construction, event organization, and ice-and-snow sports development followed, showing the momentum behind the games. Amid growing anticipation, leaders from Changchun and Jilin jointly activated the one-year countdown, with cheers filling the venue as 33 landmark screens across Changchun lit up simultaneously, illuminating the city skyline.

Preparations for the Universiade are accelerating across Jilin province. This winter season has seen a record number of ice rinks open, including 15 public ice venues in Changchun alone.

The event is catalyzing Jilin's push to build a national hub for the ice-and-snow economy. Efforts are underway to transform winter resources into growth drivers spanning tourism, sports, and equipment manufacturing, with a target of 420 billion yuan ($58.8 billion) in ice-and-snow consumption during the 2027-28 season.

The games are also spurring growth across sectors such as airport-based industries, cross-border trade, wellness tourism, and cultural travel, helping elevate Jilin's ice-and-snow brand and global visibility.