China: New Colourful Gold and Silver Proof coins Highlight 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin

The 9th Games are hosted in the Chinese city of Harbin in Heilongjiang Province. It is the second time that Harbin will host the event and the third time China has hosted the Asian Winter Games. The opening ceremony which officially opens the Games will take place on the 7th February and conclude on the 14th with thirty four nations expected to compete in sixty four events involving eleven disciplines and six sports. During the 2017 Games, the Olympic Council of Asia invited athletes from Oceania of which Australia and New Zealand accepted the invitation. For 2025, it is expected that more than 1,250 athletes will attend during the week of competition.

The official slogan of the games is ‘Dream of Winter, Love among Asia’ and the emblem is named ‘Breakthrough’. It is comprised of a design that seamlessly integrates elements such as the determined posture of short track speed skaters, Harbin's city flower lilac, swirling ribbons, the stylized Chinese character ‘九’ representing the number nine, and the sun icon of the Olympic Council of Asia.

The mascots for the 2025 Asian Winter Games are Binbin and Nini, they were created by the Academy of Fine Arts at Tsinghua University and were inspired by two Siberian tiger cubs born in the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park. Their names mean ‘Welcome to Harbin’ and are meant to show Harbin's excitement for visitors from Asian countries.

The three proof quality coins are produced by the Shenzhen Guobao Mint Company Ltd. on behalf of the People’s Bank of China.

2 Yuan – silver. Designed by He Chun and Jiang Qianqian, the obverse side depicts the two mascots participating in the 9th Asian Winter Games. In the background are buildings representing Harbin City and snowflakes which are shown with subtle colour. Above the primary design along the upper rim is the commemorative text 第 9 届 亚 洲 冬 季 运 动 会 with the English translation ‘The 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025’ placed just below the Chinese characters. The denomination 2元 is shown under the two mascots.

10 Yuan – silver. The hexagonal-shaped or, six-sided coin is designed by Zang Zishu and depicts six characters resembling the official mascots competing in the six sports of curling, figure skating, speed skating, short-track speed skating, ice hockey and skiing. In the centre of the coin is the commemorative text第 9 届 亚 洲 冬 季 运 动 会 along with the English translation ‘The 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025’ just beneath. The denomination of 10元 is placed to the lower right.

50 Yuan – gold. The obverse side is designed by Jin Yaxuan and features an image of the 9th Asian Winter Games torch to the left side along with a stylised image of the Harbin Grand Theatre and Stadium, which is the primary venue for the opening ceremony and competition. Other combined designs include snowflakes with applied subtle colour. Above the primary design along the upper rim is the commemorative text 第 9 届 亚 洲 冬 季 运 动 会 with the English translation ‘The 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025’ placed just below the Chinese characters. The denomination of 50元 is placed next to the torch near the lower rim.

Each coin shares the same reverse design which features the official emblem of the Asian Games known as ‘Breakthrough’ centred. The commemorative text HARBIN 2025 ASIAN WINTER GAMES is placed just under the emblem. Above the primary design along the upper rim is the name of the country 中 华 人 民 共 和 国 (People’s Republic of China) with the year of issue 2025 placed below and along the lower rim.

Available from the 5th January, each silver and gold coin is available as an individual purchase and is distributed by China Gold Coin Corporation. For details of these and other coins released by the People’s Bank of China, please visit the website of the China Gold Coin Network.