China eliminated all entertainment from television Monday to start three days of national mourning for victims of the May 12 earthquake that has claimed the lives of 30,000 people and counting.

One of the world's largest ice and snow festivals takes place in Harbin, China annually. It includes ice sculptures and a winter swimming contest.

Warmer winter melts incomes of China's ice cutters. ... about 44 or 45 centimetres," he told AFP earlier this month as he rested close to the shoreline in the pink light of dawn.