Kids from the Qingdao Ningxia Road Primary School are thrilled to be taking winter sports courses. [Photo/WeChat account: qdweishinan]

In the grounds of the Qingdao Ningxia Road Primary School – located in the Shinan district of Qingdao city in East China's Shandong province – a group of little cherubs were recently to be found skating on the ice, although their faces were angelic, the skills and daring they displayed were sophisticated.

Schools in the district are providing winter sports – from ice hockey to roller skating, curling and skiing – offering courses with excitement that is designed to stimulate the athletic potential of students.

"Shinan has established the province's first high-quality ice rink covering more than 300 square meters. It is popularizing skating classes in the second grade of its east No 2 educational area, has established Qingdao's first skating community and figure skating team and two schools have been rated as national youth ice and snow sports schools," said Sun Li, deputy director of Shinan district's education and sports bureau.