CHINA: Swimmers with nerves of steel in northeast China braved arctic temperatures to splash around in the Songhua River

A group of dedicated swimmers in China's frigid Harbin City take a daily dip in the frozen-over Songhua River to the amazement of tourists. Winter in Northern China is frigid enough to make the average citizen cringe - but for some it is a chance to make a splash. A handful of mostly senior residents in the northern city of Harbin (pron: hah-er-bin) gathered for a dip in the icy waters of the Songhua River (pron: sohng hwah) on Sunday (January 7), much to the delight of crowds that gather to cheer them on. But winter swimming is more than just a show for amazed tourists. It is also a mental exercise for the hardy group of swimmers who participate in the exercise every day. "It is all about fear. Ice swimming is do-able physically. As long as you get used to it gradually and practise, everybody can do it," said 57 year-old Wang Hongzhi (pron: wahng hohng djur). Bathers also swear that the health benefits are worth stripping down to a bathing suit and cap in arctic temperatures. "I used to get sick very easily. I often caught cold in winter and could not get well. Then people suggested that I should go ice swimming. So I tried and loved it. It feels very good. I don't get sick that easily in winter any more," said 58 year-old Wu Jingzhi (pron: woo djeeng djur). Originally a train stop along the Trans-Siberian Railway which was built around the turn of the century, Harbin has lately reinvented itself as a hotspot for winter tourism - offering skiing, an ice sculpture exhibit and, of course, the winter swimmers. When winter hits, thermometers in the city plunge to an average reading of minus 17 degrees celsius. Ice swimming can't be done overnight. Participants have to slowly acclimatise themselves by going for a daily dip beginning in early autumn. Swimmers take one to two laps in the rectangular ice-hole before climbing out and heading for a heated room. "I really admire their courage to swim in such a cold weather. I am from the south and it is very difficult for people from the south to imagine doing a thing like that," said one tourist, Mr. Tang (pron: tahng). The dozens of people that belong to Harbin's winter swimming team, organised in the early 80's- only represent a part of the one hundred or so that take to the Songhua's freezing waters every day.

ITN Source | January 13, 2007

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