Exploits of the ice man

The Beijing Winter Swimming Club has 23 winter swimming teams and about 1,200 registered members. The Beijing Water Authority supports eight winter swimming sites in Beijing, Longtan Lake Moat, being one of them.

"In need of a creative boost, I dived into the water with the flag of the Winter Olympics this time to support the Winter Games, carry forward the Olympic spirit, and respond to the call of 300 million people to take part in ice and snow sports," Xing says. "I also wanted to show the beauty and healthiness of winter swimmers, expressing our joy."

Winter swimmers lining up next to the freezing South Moat has become a part of the landscape in Beijing. Some do not even bother donning swimming gear, and it is not uncommon to see octogenarians prancing about without the protection of a towel as they warm up.