Mascots of the Changchun 2027 FISU Winter Universiade Photo: VCG

In the run-up to the international multi-sport event that unites university athletes from across the globe, the official emblem, slogan, and mascot for the Changchun 2027 FISU Winter Universiade have been officially unveiled. The announcement also marks a significant milestone, the 300-day countdown to the Games.

The Games will officially be held in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province, from January 15 to 25. To integrate sports with local cultures, the visual design of the emblem merges the cursive script of the Chinese character "长" (Chang), which stands for Changchun, with the letter "U" from FISU, representing "University." The result is a minimalist yet highly recognizable emblem.

In terms of color, the emblem features a classic blue-and-white palette, reflecting the unique ice and snow culture of the Northeast region. Accents in red, purple, orange, and yellow are incorporated into the ribbon-like form of the emblem, adding a sense of vibrancy and dimension to the overall design.

"The use of these colors is not merely an aesthetic; it carries symbolic meaning, highlighting the vitality of the university athletes participating in the Games," visual communication designer Cheng Yue told the Global Times.

Beyond its ice and snow culture, Changchun is also known as the cradle of China's film industry. Guo Yufeng, the lead designer of the emblem, noted that the flowing lines of the emblem also "symbolize a film reel," paying tribute to the city's unique cultural heritage. Meanwhile, following its visual logic, the emblem has been named "Changchun" too. 

To come up with this final design, the design team from Jilin University of Arts, including Guo, went through 27 days of conceptualization and refinement, producing 176 design proposals from various creative perspectives. Wu Yibo, a key designer on the team, said the greatest challenge during the process was ensuring "the accurate expression of local culture" while keeping the design "intuitive and accessible to the audience."

"It carries a dual connotation, echoing the city's identity while embodying cultural aspirations, as well as integrating the city's name with a vision of promise and vitality," Guo explained.

The design philosophy of blending culture spirit into sports has extended to the Games' mascots, a pair named "Jibing" (Ice Ji) and "Jixue" (Snow Ji). 

Their primary inspiration comes from iconic local treasures of Jilin city, the Games' sub-venue, and a city near Changchun in Jilin Province. "Jibing" is modeled after the Jilin sika deer, with its antlers held high. The antlers are a symbol of the vibrant spirit of university students. The red sportswear it wears symbolizes Jilin's profound Red Culture heritage. 

Meanwhile, "Jixue" takes the form of the Changbai Mountain ginseng, a unique variety known as the "king of herbs." It symbolizes "enduring natural vitality," mascot designer You Jie explained. Besides this, Snow Ji also wears a cotton-padded jacket with sleeves made from the iconic floral fabric of Northeast China's folk custom. Its orange gloves symbolize the harvest, hinting at the region's rich natural abundance, a distinctive trait of Jilin.

Jointly unveiled by China's Olympic medalists Ning Zhongyan, Wu Dajing, Sun Long, and Li Tianma, the Games' slogan was revealed to be: "Dreams Ignited, Youth United." 

The Changchun 2027 FISU Winter Universiade marks the return of this prestigious winter event to China since the 24th Winter Universiade was held in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, in 2009. It also stands as another major multi-sport international winter sports gala for China, following the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and the Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games.