Beijing becomes a hot spot for winter sports as residents anticipate Games

Zeal for the Beijing Winter Olympics has generated a surge in the popularity of ice sports and games among the capital's residents, especially during the ongoing Spring Festival.

On Thursday morning, crowds of people were seizing the tail of winter at a 160,000-square-meter outdoor rink in downtown Beijing's Shichahai Lake. The ice will start to melt soon after the festival.

Pros were speed skating and figure skating, while amateurs were riding ice bikes and dragon boats across the frozen water.

Many said they were anticipating good performances by athletes in the Winter Olympics that officially start on Friday.

Wang Zhu has figure skated with her colleagues at an indoor ice rink near her workplace for eight years. During the festival, the 42-year-old real estate appraiser and her friends gathered at the Shichahai rink for outdoor fun.

"Figure skating is interesting. I can not only exercise but also feel the beauty of the movements. I can feel another me inside my body," she said.

"Even better is that I've made good friends who are also skating enthusiasts. We exchange experiences and often bring our kids to parties. I hope the athletes can compete at their utmost abilities during the Olympics."

Skaters can also enjoy the "old-Beijing" feel of the Shichahai area's ancient buildings and alleyways.

The rink usually opens around December or January every year, depending on the weather, and typically operates for about a month, manager Xu Jian said. It opened on Jan 11 this year.

About 150,000 people have visited the rink this year, compared with around 120,000 in previous years, due to pitched passion for the Winter Olympics, he said.