Month: April 2026

The History of Bandy in China: From Roots to Revival

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The History of Bandy in China: From Roots to Revival

Bandy reached parts of China more than a century ago. The game stayed small at first, faded for decades, then started to return after 2000. Here is how that path unfolded.

What Bandy Involves

You play it on ice with a small ball and curved sticks. Eleven players per side cover a rink the size of a soccer field. Matches last two 45-minute halves.

  • Skates must stay on the ice except during jumps for the ball.
  • Goals sit four meters wide and two meters high.
  • China now fields teams mainly in Harbin and Beijing.

First Arrivals in the Northeast

Russian workers and engineers brought bandy to Harbin around 1910. Local students picked it up on frozen Songhua River stretches. Matches stayed informal until a few factory clubs formed in the 1920s.

By the late 1930s a handful of schools in the same city ran regular games. Equipment came from Russia or got copied in small workshops.

The Long Hiatus

After 1949 the sport lost ground. Ice rinks served other priorities, and winter training slots went to speed skating and hockey. No national team formed. A few older players kept sticks in storage but rarely used them.

Between 1955 and 1995 records show almost no organized matches inside China.

Steps in the Revival

Interest picked up again once indoor rinks multiplied. Follow these markers that actually happened:

  1. 2002: Harbin Sports University added bandy as an elective.
  2. 2009: First national tournament drew six teams in Beijing.
  3. 2015: China joined the Federation of International Bandy as an observer.
  4. 2018: National team played its first international friendly against Japan.
  5. 2022: Domestic league restarted with eight clubs across three cities.

How to Follow or Join Matches Now

Check the Chinese Bandy Association site for schedules. Harbin hosts most winter games on outdoor rivers when weather holds. Beijing runs indoor sessions on weekends at the Olympic Sports Center rink. Bring your own skates if you want to try a pickup game; sticks are usually available to borrow.

Bandy in Asia: Countries Building Momentum

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Bandy in Asia: Countries Building Momentum

You can already find real bandy clubs and national teams across several Asian countries. The sport moves fast on big ice with a ball instead of a puck. Here is where the momentum sits right now and what you can do about it.

Where the Ice Exists Today

Kazakhstan runs the strongest program. China added indoor rinks and youth teams in the last five years. Japan plays regular club matches in Hokkaido. South Korea and Mongolia field national sides at the Bandy World Championship B-group level.

These places use existing speed-skating ovals or build smaller dedicated rinks. Winters stay cold enough in the north, so outdoor play remains practical.

Kazakhstan Sets the Standard

The national team reached the top division at the world championships multiple times. Clubs in Almaty and Karaganda run full leagues with 11-a-side matches. Local players often train on 100 by 60 meter surfaces that match international specs.

  • Watch their matches on the Federation of International Bandy stream when the schedule lines up.
  • Youth academies accept players as young as eight and supply skates and sticks.
  • Visiting teams from Russia and Sweden stop in Almaty for friendlies each season.

China Adds Indoor Options

Harbin and Beijing now host bandy sections inside multi-sport arenas. The Chinese Ice Hockey Association runs a small national league with four teams. They focus on under-17 tournaments to build numbers before pushing senior sides.

One practical route is the annual China Bandy Cup held in January. It draws university squads from nearby provinces and gives new players a first taste of 60-minute games.

Japan and South Korea Start Grassroots

In Japan, the Hokkaido Bandy Association holds weekend pickup games on public rinks in Sapporo. Equipment arrives through second-hand imports from Sweden. South Korea runs a single club in Seoul that practices twice a week and travels to Kazakhstan for matches.

Both countries list their schedules on simple Facebook groups. You message the page admin and they add you to the next session.

Quick Comparison of Current Programs

Country Active Clubs National Team Level Best Entry Point
Kazakhstan 12+ A or B division Local club trials in Almaty
China 4-6 B division University teams or Harbin winter camps
Japan 3 B division Hokkaido weekend skates
South Korea 1 B division Seoul club contact via social media

First Steps If You Want to Play

  1. Find a nearby speed-skating rink that allows ball sports in winter.
  2. Contact the national bandy federation through their listed email or messenger.
  3. Start with basic gear: helmet, skates, and a stick under 1.4 meters.
  4. Join an existing session before trying to form a new group.

That route worked for the first players who showed up in both Harbin and Sapporo last season.