There will be an international flavour to this year's event with participants coming from more than 10 different countries from as far as Norway.

As a county boasting many celebrated tourism resorts, millions of travelers from home and abroad visit Yanqing every year.

The annual winter ice and snow festival is part of the local government's attempts to attract more visitors during the colder winter months.

This year's event sees a major progression as its scale has been stepped up thanks to cooperation with a number of foreign counterparts.

Held from January 1 to February 28, the seventh festival will be spread over four main sites, which will play host to a variety of activities.

Downtown Yanqing

Grand carnival parades will be held on January 1, 2, 18, 19 and February 13 and 14. Thousands of people -- including many foreigners, college students and local people -- will take part.

Caravans, colourful floats and teams of skaters will add an extra special atmosphere to the festival.

Each day's carnival will last for two hours from 7 pm to 9 pm. During the carnival time, a number of lucky draws will be held.

From January 1 to February 14, 2001, visitors to Badaling Great Wall, Longqingxia, Kangxi Grassland and Shijinglong Ski Slopes will have the chance to use their entrance tickets for the draws.

Winning numbers and the corresponding prizes will be published in Beijing Morning Post between January 21 and February 19, 2002.

According to officials of the local government, the prizes include a free package summer tour around all Yanqing's famous scenic spots - such as Badaling Great Wall and Longqingxia.

Telephone for lucky draw information: 010-8119-1011

Longqingxia ice and snow sculpture fair

Longqingxia, a beauty spot famous for its fairy landscapes and ice scenery in winter, will be one of the major celebration sites.

The logos of different Olympic Games will be presented here in ice sculptures.

In this way, some parts of the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games will be rehearsed at the event.

The lighting of ice lanterns will correspond with plans for the handover ceremony of the Olympic torch.

All the completed and under construction stadiums for Beijing's 2008 Olympic games will be on display in the scenic spots, again in ice form.

All the ice lanterns displayed here are based on Chinese legend, cultural interests, famous buildings and landscapes.

Chinese traditional red lanterns will be an integral part of the lantern exhibition.

Telephone: 010-6919-1020

Badaling Great Wall

A tour of the snow-covered Badaling Great Wall will also prove a wonderful attraction for visitors participating in the festival.

The winter Badaling Great Wall is an ideal place to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the area. Climbing the snow-capped Great Wall will be one of the activities of this year's ice and snow festival.

Telephone: 010-6912-1017

Kangxi Grassland

Visitors can also participate in ice sculpture, skiing

competitions an ice climbing activities at the Kangxi Grassland.

Ice-skating, ice motorcycles and ice ploughs are being made available here for the pleasure of visitors.

An icy version of the mighty Himalayas will also be created for climbing enthusiasts.

Telephone: 010-6913-1602

To get to Yanqing, you can take Bus 919 from Deshengmen on the North Second Ring Road to Yanqing or drive along Badaling Highway. The north end of the highway is Yanqing County.

Telephone for the organizing committee: 010-8119-1850

(Beijing Weekend December 28-30, 2001)