Enthusiasm soared among about a dozen hardy swimmers during a daily ritual in northeast China’s “ice city” of Harbin even as the mercury dropped well below freezing

HARBIN, China, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- As the 9th Asian Winter Games marks its 30-day countdown on Wednesday, the host city of Harbin is entering its final preparation stage, accompanied by growing enthusiasm.

Participants race in an ice dragon boat event on the frozen Songhua River in Harbin, Heilongjiang province on Tuesday. [Photo provided to]

Historical film "Harbin" has been sold to film markets in 177 countries, including Japan, its distributor CJ ENM said Wednesday.

In the midst of a frosty ice house, a massive hot pot beckons diners to gather, while surrounded by the icy city of Harbin, the capital of China's Heilongjiang Province, where temperatures frequently drop to -4 degrees Fahrenheit.

This image provided by CJ ENM shows a scene from the Korean historical film "Harbin." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) Korean film-overseas sale Korean historical drama 'Harbin' sold to 117 countries By Woo Jae-yeon SEOUL,

HARBIN, China, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Tickets for the sport competitions of the 9th Asian Winter Games will officially go on public sale on January 11, according to the organizers.

In air temperatures of -13 degrees Celsius (8.6 degrees Fahrenheit), swimmers carved a pool out of the icy waters of the Songhua River in the northeastern city of Harbin.

This is a collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors.

BEIJING, Jan 5 (APP): The 41st China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival kicked off at Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, on Sunday.

China's Ice and Snow World excites tourists with ice castles, slides and sculptures:: Harbin, China::Tourists expressed excitement on Saturday (January 4) at the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, capital city of China's northeastern Heilongjiang Province.

You can walk through historic monuments shaped from giant icy boulders, the Taj Mahal, the Temple of Heaven and even Warrior Square are all part of China's spectacular World of Snow and Ice in Harbin.