Ice swimming race held in Harbin

The northeastern Chinese city Harbin is experiencing it's coldest winter in years. But the sub-twenty temperatures and strong winds haven't stopped people from participating in the winter tradition of jumping into the freezing waters and going for a swim.

A small informal ice swimming race was held to celebrate the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. Participants included locals who have swum for years. Others were just adventurous tourists coming to experience the coldest season in a new way.

Most swam for about a minute in the bitter waters. Winter swimming is popular among middle-aged and elderly people across North China who believe it benefits their health. It's also thought of as a good way to build stronger willpower. No matter the motivation, onlookers were all amazed by the brave winter swimmers.