Nature’s artistry is on full display in northern China this winter as subzero temperatures sculpt dramatic ice formations along the Taihang Mountains. In Shanxi Province’s Pingshun County, Tongtian Gorge now features a 3-kilometer stretch of frozen waterfalls and towering icicles that shimmer under pale winter sunlight.
Further south in Licheng County, the Huangyadong Cultural Tourism Area has become a hotspot for photographers capturing clusters of translucent ice columns clinging to crimson-hued cliffs. Local tourism authorities report a 40% increase in visitors compared to last January, with infrastructure upgrades completed in late 2025 helping accommodate the surge.
“These ice landscapes form through a unique combination of sustained temperatures below -15°C and continuous water flow from mountain springs,” explained Wang Lin, a geologist at Shanxi University. “While similar phenomena occur annually, this year’s particularly stable cold fronts have created exceptionally photogenic structures.”
Safety measures remain in place as temperatures continue to hover around -12°C this week. The natural installations are expected to persist through early February, weather permitting.
