'Tangerine kids' give winter a fruitful appeal

Eleven children ages 3 to 6, bundled up in bright orange down coats, have captured netizens' hearts as they embark on a "brave" camping trip in a region in northeastern China known as a near-arctic "winter wonderland".

The preschoolers, who are escorted by three teachers, are from Nanning, capital of South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, over 3,000 kilometers away, with a daytime temperature currently above 20 C.

Upon their arrival last week in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, they sparked huge discussions on social media due to their adorable uniforms and general cuteness.

They have accumulated a flood of followers curious about their adventures in the north.

As Guangxi is associated with tangerines, which have a peel color that's exactly the same as the down jackets worn by the children, these intrepid little travelers are affectionately referred to online as "little tangerines".

They had fun in the ice and snow during their travels in Heilongjiang, which included tours to Harbin, China's northernmost city, Mohe, and the "Snow Town".

To express gratitude for the hospitality they've received in Heilongjiang, 189 metric tons of freshly picked tangerines from Guangxi were sent to the province last week and were given out at a popular tourist destination free of charge.

On Sunday, the children kick-started a new journey to neighboring Jilin province. They were showered with affection by the locals and received gifts from a group of friends dressed in blue outfits, representing the region's iconic rime.

"Jilin, here we come!" the young southerners said online.