Harbin, China, August 11, 2025: Memories rushed back for Harbin native Pang Qing as she watched the girls and boys from 20 Asian countries and regions – participants at the 2025 OCA-ISU-CAIC Asian Figure Skating Youth Camp.
Pang, a two-time world champion and Olympic medallist for China, was a Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of the nine-day training camp which ends on August 18.
“I really envy them. They are much happier. In our time, we usually skated outdoors, and rarely had the chance to skate indoors,” said Pang, recounting her tough upbringing.
Pang, 45, was born in Harbin, the home of Chinese figure skating. She began skating when she was six years old. It was 1986. China was in a period of significant transition, experiencing rapid economic development under Deng Xiaoping. Harbin was a backwater then.
“The only advantage Harbin had, and has even today, is its unique geographical advantage. We have long winters and it was ideal as an ice city,” says Pang.
It is small wonder then that Harbin is today the winter sports capital of China, and the ideal location to create an Asian hub for winter sports – a joint project started a few months ago by the Harbin Municipal Government and the Olympic Council of Asia.
As a kid, Pang didn’t have a choice of what sports she chose. “Interests and hobbies were selected by the school,” she reveals.
Someone, perhaps, had an eye for her talent as she is one of China’s most celebrated figure skaters. With her husband Tong Jian, she is the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics silver medallist in Figure Skating Pairs Free event and 2006 and 2010 World Champion.
“You must love skating and have a passion for it. I was quite lucky as I loved it. When I encountered difficulties, I could rely on my coaches and lean on my family, to overcome problems. I was also lucky in that I had a great dance partner,” she smiles mischievously.
Pang has words of wisdom for the inaugural class of students in Harbin: “Pay a lot of attention to balance and have plenty of rest. Your body needs it so as to avoid injuries. And devote yourself to training.”
All those countless hours of training helped Pang reach the top of the world. But watching the girls and boys on ice, she is missing it all.
