Jilin rime has long been regarded as one of the four most wonderful natural sights in China. It’s recorded that rime often forms on the day of the Frost’s Descent due to the low temperatures in northeastern China.

(Picture Source: Baidu)

You can only realize the magic of rime when you are personally on the scene. All words describing rime seem pale and weak in front of it.

(Picture Source: Baidu)

As for the origin of rime, there is a legend to explain it. Once upon a time, a mother with three daughters lived by the side of the Songhua River. Her husband died early and she had to raise her three daughters on her own. Enduring all kinds of hardships, and complaining about them incessantly, the mother worked day and night in order to support her miserable, ungrateful family. Finally, the three daughters grew up and got married. By then the mother was too old and lazy to live on her own. She had to rely on her daughters to live. But to everyone’s surprise, none of the three daughters wanted to look after their mother. They pushed the mother from one to another. One day, it was cold and windy, and after being pushed away by her oldest daughter for the umpteenth time, the mother was on her way to her second daughter’s home, thinking about all she had done to feed her daughters and what her daughters did to her in return. “This is the thanks I get?” she grumbled to her white Velcro sneakers as she shuffled slowly down the street. Then she started crying. Her grey hair and tears flew in the wind and splattered all over the trees just like cat hairballs. Thus, rime came into existence.

Source: www.weather.com.cn

Translated by Chen Yanqiu

Editor: Zhang Min & Wen Yi