World-class figure skating hits Shenzhen for 1st time

A poster for the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China 2026. 

The ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China 2026 will be held from Nov. 6 to 8 at Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center Gymnasium — the first time the prestigious competition, launched in 2003, will be held in Shenzhen.

More than two decades ago, visitors to a Shenzhen ice rink often bought tickets but did not rush to skate. Instead, they approached the rink and reached out to touch the ice.

Chen Lu, China’s first world figure-skating champion and now the chief coach of Peng Bay International Ice Arena at Shenzhen Sports Center, still remembers. “They found it amazing — how could such a huge block of ice freeze here?” she said.

In 2005, Chen came to Shenzhen to promote winter sports. At the time, skating in the southern city was a novelty. “Many people thought it was unbelievable that a place this hot could develop ice and snow sports,” she said.

Now the ice that once drew curious fingertips will host some of the world’s top figure skaters.

“Of course I’m excited. We have wanted this for a long time,” Chen said.

Zhou Song, general manager of Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club, said the city’s readiness reflects years of steady development. “The change has been systemic,” he said.

Over the past decade, Shenzhen has helped develop the national women’s ice hockey team under a “national team plus club” model, and hosted competitions involving the Canadian and Russian women’s hockey leagues and IIHF world championships. The Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center was designed with ice-rink conversion facilities, and a local team experienced in organizing international winter sports events has emerged through repeated hosting experience.

More residents are also taking to the ice. The number of rinks and indoor ski resorts has grown, youth training in hockey and figure skating has gained momentum, and Shenzhen athletes won five gold medals in ice events at this year’s provincial games. The International Ice Hockey Federation has named Shenzhen “China’s Hockey City.”

Zhou believes Shenzhen is testing whether winter sports can take root without natural ice or snow. “If this experiment succeeds, ice and snow sports will have moved from north to south, from ‘one-season excitement’ to ‘four-season excitement,’” he said.

A poster for the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China 2026. 

Ahead of the competition, the venue is fine-tuning its ice. Hockey needs harder ice; figure skating needs slightly softer, thicker iceto give skaters better blade grip. A professional team has resurfaced and leveled the ice, adjusting its thickness and temperature, while lighting is being adjusted to meet television broadcast requirements without causing glare for skaters.

Ticket sales are meeting expectations, with the Nov. 7 women’s singles final nearly sold out. All skaters will compete Nov. 6, while Nov. 8 will feature the men’s final and an exhibition gala.

For many Shenzhen spectators, this will be their first chance to watch world-class figure skating in person. Chen said the appeal lies in both athleticism and artistry. “Figure skating is still a competitive sport, so you watch technical ability; but it is also sport and art combined, so the skaters’ coordination and expression with the music and program are crucial,” she said.

Watching in person, she added, offers a much stronger sense of the skaters’ speed and power than watching on television, especially when they launch into jumps.

Zhou hopes the event will leave a legacy beyond the three days of competition, inspiring a new generation of spectators and young skaters to embrace the sport.