Sub-zero swimming challenge held at China festival

Beijing Jan 6 (IANS) Hundreds of brave swimmers challenged freezing temperatures on Saturday to compete in China s Harbin Ice Swimming contest.

With the morning temperature hovering around minus 20 degrees Celsius locals and tourits were out to withstand the extreme cold reports Efe news.

Armed with nothing but their swimming trunks caps and goggles up to 600 contestants took to the freezing waters of the Songhua River.

The contest is part of the 34th annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival which opened to the public on Friday.

The festival is one of China s most popular tourist attractions during the winter months.

Harbin the capital of Heilongjiang province that borders Russia each winter welcomes more than 1 million tourists for the festival.

--IANS
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