Zhang Chunyu rests on the sidelines after playing ice hockey at a makeshift rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 1, 2022. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Zhao Huimin takes a break from playing ice hockey at a makeshift rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 1, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Zhao Huimin plays ice hockey with his granddaughter on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 2, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Chu Cequn’s grandchild skates at a makeshift ice hockey rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 25, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Ice hockey players celebrate with a drink after finishing building a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 25, 2021. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Ice hockey players take a break at a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 1, 2022. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Chu Cequn, 70, gets out his ice hockey gloves, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China January 1, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A pair of skates is seen on a bench next to a makeshift ice hockey rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 2, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Team members play ice hockey at a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 2, 2022. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Ice hockey players build a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 25, 2021. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Miao Chunjiang, 55, puts on his helmet, at a makeshift ice hockey rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 2, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Yu Ning, 66, poses for a photograph at an ice hockey rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 1, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Li Bingru holds a newspaper showing a photo of himself in the local ice hockey team in 1986, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 25, 2021. "We don't have an indoor place, so we just play for 50-60 days outside, every year," said Li "When on the ice, I feel 20 years younger." REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Zhao Huimin, 68, operates a water pump used to resurface the ice on a makeshift ice hockey rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 26, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Chu Cequn, 70, leaves home to play ice hockey at a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 1, 2022. "They enjoy coming together to play," said Chu, the boss of the league. "And we enjoy duelling with equally 'old' teams from the nearby cities" he said. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Ice hockey players move wood for building a makeshift ice rink, onto a truck at a warehouse, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 25, 2021. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Ice hockey players warm up before playing, at a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 1, 2022. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Team members play ice hockey at a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 1, 2022. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

An ice hockey player uses his stick to carry his skates after playing at a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, January 1, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Ice hockey players use a home-made resurfacing machine on a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 26, 2021. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

An ice hockey player practices at a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 26, 2021. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

An ice hockey player breaks a hole in the ice while building a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 25, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

An ice hockey player climbs over a fence outside a warehouse where tools and equipment for building a makeshift ice rink are stored, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 25, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Zhao Huimin, 68, smokes as his teammates move equipment for building a makeshift ice rink, at a warehouse, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 25, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Ice hockey players move equipment while building a makeshift ice rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 25, 2021. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Zhang Mingnan, 67, moves a goal across a makeshift ice hockey rink on a frozen lake in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 25, 2021. The players are mostly in their 50s and 60s, their passion for the sport in sharp contrast to wider indifference, aggravated by the unremarkable men's hockey team that is to compete for China in the Beijing Games next month. For the Anshan players, though, hockey has never been about smashing Olympic records or playing in an elite league. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Smoke is seen rising from chimneys through a car window in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 24, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Chu Cequn, 70, (L) guides players to where to place markings, while building a makeshift ice hockey rink on a frozen lake, in Anshan, Liaoning province, China, December 24, 2021.  "I've all the measurements in my head as we set up the rink," Chu said, who started playing at age 30 when he enrolled in a university in 1980 after the Cultural Revolution. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang SEARCH "WANG ANSHAN HOCKEY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES