As the morning school bell signals the end of class, students quickly shift into skaters, donning skating shoes and putting on protective gear to revel in the joy of skating on the ice-covered ground at a school in northeast China.

For years, students of the Mudanjiang Korean ethnic minority primary school in the city of Mudanjiang, located in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, have honoured this tradition. The school, committed to fostering physical well-being and resilience in children through winter sports, has continued to maintain an ice rink for 40 years.

Beyond physical education classes, the school extends the pleasure of ice and snow sports by opening the ice rink after school hours and on weekends. Teachers are also arranged to provide guidance, ensuring the safety of the children as they fully immerse themselves in the fun of these activities.
A student named Yin Meishu said: "I think skating can relieve my stress and give me more self-confidence."

The school's headmaster named Xuan Songyan: "We offer the best for our children. Almost all students in the school have participated in skating classes. They love the sport."

STORY: Students enjoy skating on ice-covered ground at school in NE China
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 11, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 12, 2023
LENGTH: 0:02:48
LOCATION: MUDANJIANG, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of students skating on the ice-covered ground at a school in Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province 
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): YIN MEISHU, Student
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): XUAN SONGYAN, Headmaster
   
STORYLINE:

As the morning school bell signals the end of class, students quickly shift into skaters, donning skating shoes and putting on protective gear to revel in the joy of skating on the ice-covered ground at a school in northeast China.

For years, students of the Mudanjiang Korean ethnic minority primary school in the city of Mudanjiang, located in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, have honored this tradition. The school, committed to fostering physical well-being and resilience in children through winter sports, has continued to maintain an ice rink for 40 years.

Beyond physical education classes, the school extends the pleasure of ice and snow sports by opening the ice rink after school hours and on weekends. Teachers are also arranged to provide guidance, ensuring the safety of the children as they fully immerse themselves in the fun of these activities.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): YIN MEISHU, Student 
"I think skating can relieve my stress and give me more self-confidence."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): XUAN SONGYAN, Headmaster
"We offer the best for our children. Almost all students in the school have participated in skating classes. They love the sport."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Mudanjiang, China.
(XHTV)