The big freeze

Wuhan, China: A winter swimmer stands beside a stranded ship by the Yangtze river Photograph: China Photos/Getty

Wuhan, China: Rail workers cross the tracks after heavy snow at Hankou station Photograph: China Photos/Getty

Nanjing, China: A resident shovels snow Photograph: Sun Can Xinhua/AP

Nanjing, China: Bicycles are buried in snow Photograph: EyePress/AP

Nanjing, China: Snow-covered buildings Photograph: EyePress/AP

Wuhan, China: Stranded passengers wait to get into the railway station Photograph: AP

Guiyang, China: Wild macaques keep each other warm in Qianling Park Photograph: Qin Gang/Xinhua/AP

Zunyi county, China: At least 25 people were killed and 13 injured when a bus plunged off an icy road on Tuesday Photograph: AP

Guangzhou, China: Police block passengers trying to enter the railway station, stranding people on their way home for the Spring Festival Photograph: China Photos/Getty

Nanjing, China: Migrant workers carry items on a snow-covered road Photograph: EyePress/AP

Ramallah, West Bank: A municipal vehicle clears a road after heavy snowfall Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

Ramallah, West Bank: A member of Mahmoud Abbas' security force outside the presidential compound Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

Jerusalem: A blizzard shrouds the view of the golden Dome of the Rock Photograph: David Silverman/Getty

Herat, Afghanistan: A woman begs for alms on a snow covered road Photograph: Jalil Rezayee/EPA

Dahr El-Baidar mountain, Lebanon: A man fixes a metal chain around his tyres as Syrian workers walk through snow Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP

Kashmir, Pakistan: A man walks on a snow-covered path in Neelum valley Photograph: Nasiruddin Mughal/EPA