The Mongolian ethnic people's tradition of fishing under thick ice is back on display at Hulun Lake.

It's the coldest time of year on the grasslands of the western Hulunbuir prairie in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The day's highest temperature is a mere -26 C; the low is -40 C.

Hulun Lake, one of the five largest freshwater lakes in China with an area of 2,339 square kilometers, has completely frozen. The icy surface glitters in the sunshine. Locals fearlessly drive cars and tractors on the ice, which has an average thickness of 70 cm.