XI'AN — During the "National Day" golden week, China's first ice rink, transformed from a basketball and volleyball court, was unveiled at the Xi'an Olympic Sports Center stadium, which will be one of the main venues for next year's 14th National Games in Shaanxi province.

The stadium has a total area of more than 107,000 square meters, including 18,000 seats and an ice rink of 1,800 square meters, which is the largest ice rink in Northwest China.

According to Xia Qiang, head of the construction company at the site, refrigeration pipes were embedded in the design of the gymnasium. The first ice-making took 5 days, watering at -4 degree to make ice, increasing layer by layer, making 1 to 2 millimeters of ice at a time until an ice layer of more than 4 centimeters thick was made.

"When it is necessary to change the venue, the ice quilts, protective boards and mobile wood floors can be quickly laid on the ice surface and converted into basketball or volleyball competition venues again. This innovation ensures the different competitions can be switched quickly in the shortest possible time," Xia Qiang said.

With the approval of The State Council, the 14th National Games will be held in Shaanxi province from September 5 to September 27, 2021. As the highest-level and largest comprehensive sports meeting in China, the National Games will be held in the vast central and western regions for the first time.