The 2025 Beijing Figure Skating and Synchronized Skating League opened on June 13 at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing. The three-day competition brought together a record of over 400 athletes from 31 clubs and schools across the city, highlighting the sport's growing popularity in Beijing.

A skater compete in the 2025 Beijing Figure Skating and Synchronized Skating League at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, June 13-15, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Recognized as a key annual event on Beijing's ice sports calendar, the league features a variety of disciplines including singles, pairs, ice dance and synchronized skating, with categories ranging from youth to adult levels.

A skater compete in the 2025 Beijing Figure Skating and Synchronized Skating League at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, June 13-15, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Designed as both a competitive platform and a developmental opportunity, the league offers young skaters the chance to hone their skills and gain valuable experience. It also plays a vital role in cultivating future talent and promoting the long-term development of ice sports in Beijing.

Skaters chat rink-side during the 2025 Beijing Figure Skating and Synchronized Skating League at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, June 13-15, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

This year's edition was hosted at the venue's underground Ice Sports Center, a state-of-the-art facility equipped with Olympic-standard ice rinks, high-level event logistics and professional management teams.

A skater and her coach wait for the scores in the "kiss-and-cry area" after her performance in the 2025 Beijing Figure Skating and Synchronized Skating League at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, June 13-15, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

In keeping with its dual-Olympic legacy, the center introduced a multi-tiered viewing experience for this year's league. Fans were able to watch the action rink-side, from a mezzanine viewing space or at an outdoor fan zone on the venue's south square, where live screenings, seating and food vendors offered a more relaxed environment for spectators to enjoy.

The event also reflects the center's broader shift from being a specialized competition venue to becoming a year-round destination for sport, culture and recreation. This summer, the venue is launching a series of programs combining ice and water sports, aimed at giving young people an engaging and active alternative for their holidays.

With an eye toward hosting more top-tier events in the coming years, the center continues to expand its role in promoting winter sports and fostering a lasting skating culture in the capital.