Team China secured eight gold, eight silver and four bronze medals on the first gold medal day of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province on Saturday, topping both the gold medal and overall medal standings.

(250208) -- HARBIN, Feb. 8, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Yang Binyu of China competes during the women's 1500m final match of the speed skating event at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

HARBIN, China -- The 2025 Asian Winter Games will hold its opening ceremony here Friday in the northeastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang under tightened security after a wave of violent crimes that shook the country.

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves during the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin northeast Chi

HARBIN - China's Li Fanghui secured the host nation's first gold medal at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, triumphing in the women's freeski halfpipe event at the Yabuli Ski Resort on Saturday.

Lin Xiaojun of China celebrates after the men's 500m final match of the short track speed skating event at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

China's Li Fanghui secured the host nation's first gold medal at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, triumphing in the women's freeski halfpipe event at the Yabuli Ski Resort on Saturday.

China's Lin Xiaojun, left, leads the men's 1500m semifinals 2 at the Short Track Speed Skating during the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.

The ninth Asian Winter Games opened in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin on Friday with a celebration of athletes from across the continent. Hosting the Winter Asiad for the second time under the motto,