Pole dance player He Bi practices in China Pole Dance Sports & Training Center, Tianjin, June 8, 2013. Photo: Xinhua

A group of photos depicting China's national pole dancing team's training in the snow have become a hot topic on the Internet recently. Many people have no idea about this team. In fact, with the authorization of the World Pole Dance Federation, China set up its first national pole dancing team in Tianjin in October 2012.

This pole dancing team is comprised of 16 players who were selected from the annual China Pole Dance Championships, representing China's highest level of pole dance. The team is to participate in world-class competitive pole dancing events, for example, the 2013/2014 World Pole Sport & Fitness Championships be held in London this January. China's national pole dance team will send seven players to take part in the event.

The team is stepping up training to prepare for this tournament. He Bi, a member in the team, says: "Every day before training, we have to take warm-up exercises for more than one hour. We cannot wear too much clothes, and sometimes in order to increase the friction, we have to spray water on our body and the poles. It's freezing cold to practice in winter." In spite of the difficulties, the players persist in training every day, hoping to achieve good results in the tournament.

Sponsored by the World Pole Dance Federation, the World Pole Sport & Fitness Championships is the first international pole dance competition.

Pole dance players practice in China Pole Dance Sports & Training Center, Tianjin, May 8, 2013. Photo: Xinhua

Pole dance drama Elves on poles is staged in Tianjin Auditorium Theatre, May 18, 2013. Meng Yifan (middle), the captain, leads the players practicing before the performance. Photo: Xinhua

Pole dance drama Elves on poles is staged in Tianjin Auditorium Theatre, May 18, 2013. Meng Yifan (middle), the captain, leads the players practicing before the performance. Photo: Xinhua 

Team captain Meng Yifan leads players stretching legs in China Pole Dance Sports & Training Center, Tianjin, May 28, 2013. Photo: Xinhua

Pole dance player Yan Xu competes in the final of the Third China Pole Dance Championships, July 19, 2013. Yan won the men's title in this tournament. Photo: Xinhua

Pole dance players Cao Nuo (down) and Fang Yi compete in the final of the Third China Pole Dance Championships, Tianjin Haihe Theater, July 19, 2013. Photo: Xinhua

Pole dance team captain Meng Yifan helps He Bi stretch her legs in China Pole Dance Sports & Training Center, Tianjin, May 27, 2013. Photo: Xinhua

Pole dance player He Bi practices in China Pole Dance Sports & Training Center, Tianjin, June 8, 2013. Photo: Xinhua