China kicks off month-long winter festival in northern city of Harbin

Participants swim in a pool carved out of the frozen Songhua River during an ice swimming competition as a part of the annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 5, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

HARBIN, China (Reuters) - Swimming enthusiast Yu Hongtao, 50, trained for months in the freezing water of the Songhua river to compete in a winter ice swimming tournament held annually in China's northern city of Harbin, known for its bitterly cold weather.

"You have to start swimming from autumn so that the body can conquer the sudden icy impact on one's cardio-vascular system," said Yu, a Harbin resident. "The feeling of diving into the water is very cool."

More than 300 men and women, wearing just ordinary trunks and swimsuits, on Saturday braved the bitter cold waters in the ice swimming meet, part of Harbin's annual winter festival, among the biggest in the northern hemisphere.

A swimmer reacts before an ice swimming competition during the annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 5, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Temperatures can plunge as low as 35 degrees Celsius below zero (minus 31 F) in the city in China's Heilongjiang province.

The festival, which began on Saturday, has drawn millions of visitors from around the world every year since its inception in the early 1980s.

Highlights include sled rides on the Songhua river, mass weddings, and towering sculptures of ice and snow carved by thousands of artists and workers.

Swimmers react after finishing a competition in a pool carved out of the frozen Songhua River during the annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 5, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Visitors marvel at the mini ice replicas of the Colosseum and of the Milan Cathedral, particularly in the long evenings when soft, colored lights illuminate the sculptures.

The festival also attracts hordes of domestic tourists.

"The ice castles and sculptures made by workers are very impressive," said Lin Renlong, who was visiting with his girlfriend.

Ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights are seen at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

"It's like Disneyland, Disneyland in winter," said the 22-year-old from the northern province of Hebei.

(Reporting by Joyce Zhou and Ryan Woo; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights are seen at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights are seen at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights are seen at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Visitors stand in front of ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights are seen at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Visitors pose for a photo next to an ice sculpture at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

A worker shaves ice sculptures in preparation for annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights are seen at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Members of security stand guard in front of ice sculptures at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Visitors play in front of ice sculptures at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Visitors pose for photo next to a slogan "New era in China" at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

A man walks between snowmen on Songhua River that displays 2019 snowmen as a part of annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

A couple walk between snowmen on Songhua River that displays 2019 snowmen as a part of annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Ice sculptures are seen at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

A visitor walks in front of ice sculptures at annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

A woman falls on the ice on Songhua River that displays 2019 snowmen as a part of annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Children sled on Songhua River that displays 2019 snowmen as a part of annual ice festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu