Swimmers braved the cold on Wednesday in Beiling Lake in Shenyang, the capital city of northeast China’s Liaoning Province. /Chinanews Photo

A bird's-eye view shows a group of people swimming in the iced lake, with temperatures below minus 20 degrees. /Chinanews Photo

Swimming in winter is a popular hobby in the city. The Shenyang Winter Swimming Association has more than 500 members, including government officials, retirees, soldiers and entrepreneurs. /Chinanews Photo

“It is a process of self-challenge. I am proud of myself every time I come out from the iced water. The feeling gets stronger in extremely cold days,” said a swimmer who is a businessman. /Chinanews Photo