The 22nd Yanqing Ice and Snow Tourism Festival will raise the curtain in Beijing Yanqing County on December 10, 2007, and last until the end of February, 2008.

Featuring the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the tourism festival will be held in Longqing Gorge, Shijinglong Ski Resort, Badaling Ski Resort, Badaling Great Wall, Badaling Remnant Great Wall, Ancient Cliff House, Xiadu Park (夏都公园) and other tourism attractions.

The Longqing Gorge will welcome tourists with beautiful ice lantern show of more than 400 pieces of works. Among them, the 42-meter long (46 yards) grand snow sculpture is especially attractive. Characterized by the theme of 'One World, One Dream', it consists of vivid snow sculptures of the 2008 Olympic Landscape, Olympic Fuwa, Olympic Torch and the Olympic Cities. The 4th International Ice and Snow Sculpture Competition is scheduled in the gorge. Tourists can appreciate the performances of Inner Mongolian style and have a taste of the special snacks.

In the Shijinglong Ski Resort and Badaling Ski Resort, skiers can enjoy themselves to their content. Races of climbing the Great Wall will be held in the Badaling Great Wall, and foreigners can gather in the Badaling Hotel and make dumplings. In Xiadu Park, visitors can join in the 30th Beijing Winter Swimming Competition.

Except for many distinctive food and snacks, the folk villages, hotels and restaurants in Yanqing County will also provide various activities, including the campfire parties and fruit-pickings.

(beijingtrip.com December 4, 2007)