Ice Sports in Ancient China

Winter is long and bitterly cold in the vast northern part of China. Sports on ice started from the hoary past and prospered during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1611-1911) dynasties, especially among some national minorities, in the form of speed skating, figure skating, sledding and archery on ice.

Part of a Qing scroll painting showing figure skaters. Imperial Place Museum.

A Qing painting showing a sleigh propelled forward with poles like a pleasure boat on water. Imperial Place Museum.

Portions of this article were adapted from research materials originally published on China Sports Museum.