Never too cold to play

(ECNS) -- While most are reluctant to leave the warmth of their homes during winter, a group of elderly swimmers enjoy the perks of an icy dip, with water temperatures below minus 30 degrees Celsius.

Xie Zhansheng is one of the oldest among the winter swimming enthusiasts.

The 90-year-old has persistently swam each day for the past 20 years.

"Swimming is a benefit to overall health. I am much healthier now than when I was seventy years old,"　Xie said.

This chilling sport is especially popular among the elderly and retired.

Members of a local self-supported winter swimming association are aged 55 on average.

Every winter, they carve a pool out of the river ice and swim on a daily basis.

The local government is active in organizing competitions as part of its promotion of winter tourism.