Check out this video of people plunging into polar waters at the beginning of the annual Harbin ice festival (thanks to folks at Shanghaiist.com blog).

Harbin is China’s northernmost major city, and every year around this time they have an ice and snow sculpture competition. It draws large crowds but I have yet to attend.

Here’s more about the festival from the chinatravel.net website:

The focal point of the festival is Zhaolin Park, located next to the Songhua River. During the festival, Zhaolin Park becomes home to array of ice carvings ranging from figures of human, animal, and birds to mythical as well as historic and political characters and figurines of world renowned attractions such as the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower, and Taj Mahal.

In the evenings, the sculptures are lit up and ice-lantern park touring activities are held in many parks throughout the city.

The Harbin festival is one of the world's four largest ice and snow festivals, along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival.

I can’t wait to pack my bathing suit and get up there.