Li Rui, deputy director of the Tongjiang City Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, says that bringing traditional Hezhe sports to the ice and snow arena is an innovative way of preserving intangible cultural heritage.

"It helps to achieve a deep integration of traditional Hezhe culture with ice and snow culture, injecting new vitality into the living inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, and effectively promoting its creative transformation and development," he says.

"More importantly, the event uses intangible cultural heritage sports as a bridge to build a platform for exchange and integration among different groups, deepening understanding and consensus on intangible cultural heritage protection, and fostering national unity," he adds.

In early March, teams from other border regions in the province will form delegations to compete in the northern division, which will be held in Mohe city.