Yi Quan Lake berths Winter festival

Perhaps a winter activity of tourist value may just be in the making the making. In sharp contrast to the economic 'winter' which the Chinese economy is going through, Handan in the north-east of China is throwing up an activity of immense cultural value. 

The fall of temperature usually signifies that winter is at hand except in precise areas like the north pole where winter wakes and sleeps. Winter induces people to sty at home to remain warm and it such a  season that challenges an adventure to out-door life.

Somehow, the Yi Quan lake in Handan is breaking convention. The lake has frozen to sub zero levels and this has become the attraction that has encouraged hoards of people, wearing skimpy swimsuits, to frolic in the lake that's partially caked with enormous slabs of ice.

So much fun it is that Cui Deyi, a cold-weather challenger known as 'Huangshan Polar Bear', has even taken the opportunity to play chess while sitting in a giant tub of ice.

What has become the first edition of the Yi Quan Lake Winter Swim Cultural Festival took place on 16th January, 2016 with over 600 keen winter swimmers travelled from all over China, including Beijing, Heibei, Henan and Shandong, to attend the festival according to the local newspaper in Handan, hdbs.cn.

While the winter swim frolic looks set to become an annual event, Cui Deyi has, very likely, set up its frst feature - Cui Deyi's ice tub chess challenge. Cui Deyi won several games of Chinese chess despite wearing tiny swim shorts and shivering against the ice, which covered his lower extremities.

The well-known competitor currently holds the record for the longest winter swim in the sea.

After the ice-cold chess challenge, the winter swimming enthusiasts then stripped down into their swimsuits to brave the icy water of the lake.

Temperatures in the air were barely above freezing and huge slabs of ice had already formed on the surface of the lake.

Despite initial reservations and gasps of surprise, many of the visitors continued to play in the freezing waters. 

The festival also featured other activities such as martial arts, fitness classes, ice related performances and winter photography sessions.