Harbin, January 10, 2026 – The inaugural “HIT-Cambridge-Oxford Cup” Ice Dragon Boat Race kicked off on the frozen Songhua River in Harbin, drawing 14 elite university teams from home and abroad for a spectacular display of sportsmanship and cross-cultural friendship.

Hosted by Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), the event brought together students from the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, China’s C9 League universities, and top institutions in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. On the ice surface, participants demonstrated remarkable teamwork and resilience, turning the frozen river into a stage for youth vitality and cultural exchange.

Distinguished guests including officials from Heilongjiang Provincial Government and Harbin Municipal Government attended the opening ceremony. Video messages were delivered by officials from the Ministry of Education of China and the President of the International Canoe Federation. Olympic champion and HIT faculty member Zhang Hong presided over the ceremony, emphasizing the event’s role in bridging youth across borders.

Unlike traditional water-based dragon boat racing, the ice version requires athletes to propel the boat with ice chisels on solid ice, testing both physical strength and coordination. Cambridge student Edward Townsend described the experience as “unprecedented,” noting the contrast between rowing on the River Cam and racing on China’s frozen river.

After intense competition, teams from Nanjing University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, University of Cambridge, and HIT claimed the first prize. The race was live-streamed across multiple platforms, attracting over 800,000 online viewers and showcasing the charm of winter sports in northern China to a global audience.

This event not only promoted ice sports innovation but also deepened mutual understanding and friendship between young people from China and the UK, laying a solid foundation for future academic and cultural exchanges.