The 20th China?Jilin International Snow, Ice and Rime Festival started at Lake Songhua Resort, a newly-opened tourist facility owned by China’s leading real estate developer Wanke, in Jilin city, on Dec 18.

Visitors take photos of the amazing rime scenery in Jilin city on Dec 18. [Photo by Shi Lei/Jilin Daily]

This year’s festival will stage various activities, including a poetry competition, a photography exhibition, and hot spring tours during the over two-month-long carnival.

The festival will also welcome a group of international sports events, such as FIS Alpine Ski Race, the National Alpine Skiing Championship and a national championship snowboarding game.

Officials from the provincial tourism bureau, and diplomats from the US, Russia and South Korea, as well as representatives from Jilin’s sister city Chongqing, attended the opening ceremony. The organizing committee hoped the festival can bring in more investment and cooperation opportunities for the city at the ceremony.