International media group visits Rime Island in Jilin

Olga, a reporter from Ussuri Television Station in Russia, interacts with an eagle on Rime Island on Dec 24. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A group of media reporters from home and abroad visited Rime Island in Jilin city, Jilin province on Dec 24, the third day of their tour to the northeastern province.

Organized by the Jilin Provincial Publicity Bureau, the tour aims to promote the province's winter industry.

Some 100 reporters from state-owned media outlets such as Xinhua, People's Daily and China Media Group, as well as mainstream media from China and Russia, participated in the seven-day tour which commenced on Dec 22.

Rime Island is a small island located on the Songhua River. The island is covered with splendid rime scenery from December to February every winter, which is the best time to visit. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Rime, also known as snow willow or ice flowers, is the ice crystals that condense on tree branches when frost meets water vapor. The phenomenon, common in Jilin's winters, is caused by the super-cold weather and surrounding warmer waters.

Jilin rime is considered one of the "four natural wonders of China" together with the mountains and water of Guilin, the Stone Forest of Yunnan and the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River.

Rime, also known as snow willow or ice flowers, is the ice crystals that condense on tree branches when frost meets water vapor. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]