There will be an international flavor to this year's event with participants from more than 18 countries and districts.

The annual winter ice and snow festival is part of the local government's attempt 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 co-operation with a number of counterparts.

Different activities will be held in different sites during the 50-day celebration.

Watch out for special events at Xiadu Park and Guichuan Culture Square on January 1 and 2.

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

A total of 100 participants from 15 different countries and districts will attend a Chinese-style wrestling competition.

Badaling Great Wall will invite 10,000 Chinese and foreigners in Beijing to attend the annual Great Wall Climbing Contest at 10:30 am on January 1, 2003.

Anyone can join the event - as long as you are one of the first 10,000 to ask!

Prizes will be up for grabs.

Wonderful ice and snow sculptures will be on display in Longqingxia Scenic Spot.

Visitors can also participate in ice sculpture, skiing competitions and 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.

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

(Beijing Weekend December 30, 2002)