The 19th Ice and Snow Culture Tourism Festival held in Barkol, NW China's Xinjiang

The ice mining ceremony of the 19th Ice and Snow Culture Tourism Festival was held in the Erqu Reservoir of Gaojia Lake in Barkol County, Hami City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 12, 2023. The ceremony maily celebrates the mining of the "first ice". Winding flag, saying blessing words, drinking the battle wine and other traditional ceremonies are held as well. The photo shows workers wielding tools to cut ice. (Zhong Weiliang/Guangming Picture)

The ice mining ceremony of the 19th Ice and Snow Culture Tourism Festival was held in the Erqu Reservoir of Gaojia Lake in Barkol County, Hami City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 12, 2023. The ceremony maily celebrates the mining of the "first ice". Winding flag, saying blessing words, drinking the battle wine and other traditional ceremonies are held as well. The photo shows workers operating a machine to cut ice. (Zhong Weiliang/Guangming Picture)