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. 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. "The ice castles and sculptures made by workers are very impressive," said Lin Renlong, who was visiting with his girlfriend. "It's like Disneyland, Disneyland in winter," said the 22-year-old from the northern province of Hebei.

Source: The Star January 05, 2019 08:37 UTC