According to the organizers, a total of 3.1 billion yuan (some 430 million US dollars) has been invested to build or upgrade the sport facilities.

Fifty-one sports and accommodating facilities for the biennial games have completed constructing and renovating by the end of November, 2008. Among them, skating rinks, skiing courses and transportation networks have all been upgraded.

George Killian, president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) said that "I was amazed to see the great progress of the city over the years and I believe Harbin is fully competent to hold a best-ever Universiade."

FISU supervisor to the universiade, Milan Augustin, said that "the venue here (Maoershan) is very beautiful, nice and amazing. It meet all the international standards and you can even organize world championships."

For the four-chapter ceremony only, some 1,700 students from 26 universities and colleges in China, Chinese Hong Kong, Chinese Macao and Chinese Taipei have been gathered up for a series of performances that combined heart-pounding music, splendid lighting effects and cutting edge technology.

Figure skating world champions Pang Qing and Tong Jian, both were born and raised in Heilongjiang, danced on the ice to the thrilling high pitch of Russian tenor Vitas.

"Amid snow flying down, we're telling the world, we're young, we're strong!" With the chorus of 10 college singers, the ceremony concluded in the universiade anthem, while mascot "Dong Dong" smile everywhere to welcome friends from all over the world.