People ski at the Wanlong Baideng Mountain Ski Resort in Datong. [Photo/Yellow River News] 

The 5th China Datong Ice and Snow Festival kicked off on Nov 25 at the Wanlong Baideng Mountain Ski Resort in Datong, North China's Shanxi province. 

Co-hosted by the Shanxi Sports Bureau and the Datong municipal government, the festival will run till February. It aims to boost sports tourism, increase sports consumption, and enhance the influence and reputation of Datong. 

During the festival, more than 10 ice and snow event venues, including the Wanlong Baideng Mountain Ski Resort, Wolong Mountain Ski Resort in Pingcheng district, and Wenyin Lake Park Ice Skating Rink, Zhengde Square, will host 10 major programs and 13 competitive events.

An art performance is staged at the opening ceremony of the 5th China Datong Ice and Snow Festival, Nov 25. [Photo/Yellow River News] 

The former include ice skating sessions for young people and lessons for the general public on how to ski, while the competitive events include ice hockey and figure skating invitationals. 

In addition, the festival will host the Shanxi Snowboarding Championship, Shanxi Alpine Skiing Championship, and Shanxi Curling Championship in early to mid-December.

Skiers ride lifts above the slopes at the Wanlong Baideng Mountain Ski Resort in Datong. [Photo/Shanxi Daily] 

Over 10,000 ice and snow sports enthusiasts from across the country are expected to come together to participate in the festival. 

Since the beginning of this year, Datong has been promoting the sustainable development of its sports industry by carefully planning its ice and snow events, building customized ice and snow event venues, and organizing ice and snow competitions and performances.