Diego Azubel / EPA

A Chinese man dives into a pool cut out of the frozen waters of the Songhua Jiang river in sub-zero temperatures during a winter swimming event as part of the International Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. The three-month long festival attracts visitors from all over China as well as a number of foreign guests who brave below zero temperatures to see colorful large ice and snow sculptures, ride horse-drawn carriages and enjoy a number of winter activities set up on the sidelines of the festival.

See other winter swimmers from China

Slideshow: China's Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

Sheng Li / Reuters

The annual winter festival in northeastern China opens on Jan. 5, 2012.

Launch slideshow

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AFP - Getty Images

A Chinese man diving into the Jingpo lake from a frozen waterfall on Mudanjiang, in northeast China's Heilongjiang province.

Another great photograph from China about people swimming during the winter months for the good of their health. The other picture I blogged on the same subject earlier this month can be seen here.

The winter swimming is especially popular amongst the elderly and retired as it's believed to improve circulation and benefit health, and also said to increase the level of mental awareness, release stress, remove aches and pains, increase vitality and keep skin looking younger - and of course, an overall feeling of well-being.

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Sheng Li / Reuters

A swimmer dives into the icy water of a lake of Beiling park in Shenyang, Liaoning province on Friday, Dec. 2, 2011.

In China it is believed swimming in near freezing water during the winter months strengthens the immune system of one’s body. 

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