China Scenic Spots Association Praises Mount Tai's Rime Beauty

“Cloud Tour of Beautiful China” Column

A collection of the four-season landscapes across China

Cloud tour of beautiful China, cloud view of the time scroll

Cloud Tour of Beautiful China · Winter Special

Mount Tai

In the deep winter, Mount Tai is covered in white snow, like an endless white ocean. Walking on the snow-covered Mount Tai, the melody of winter echoes among the peaks. The photographer captured the wonders of freezing rain, snow rime, and rime ice in the strong wind.

Sunlight pierces through the morning mist, casting a glow on the ice-covered branches, forming flickering silver threads that sway gently in the breeze, showcasing their beauty and resilience.

Standing at the summit, white snow stretches as far as the eye can see, rolling mountains rise and fall, pine trees stand tall and green, and the mountain ranges twist like mighty dragons. The pines of Mount Tai are draped in a white veil, rime ice sways gracefully, creating a stunning winter painting with the blue sky and white clouds.

Snow fills the mountains and rivers, and the charm of winter grows stronger. After the snowfall, the serene Mount Tai looks like a fresh and elegant ink-wash painting, where nature’s craftsmanship brings pure and healing beauty to the mountain.

——Tai’an Photographers Association

Mount Huangshan

On December 20th, after a snowfall, Huangshan cleared up to reveal a stunning view. As far as the eye could see, the five-hundred-mile mountain range was covered in rime and snow, dressed in silver and adorned with jade-like trees and branches. This, together with the rolling sea of clouds, created a dreamlike, surreal scene. Visitors walking through the mountains felt as if they had stepped into a crystal fairy tale world.

Stopping to gaze into the distance, the towering peaks were layered with snow of varying depths, appearing and disappearing amidst the surging sea of clouds. At that moment, Huangshan seemed to transform into a mysterious, celestial mountain floating above the clouds. Standing on the summit and looking down at the sea of clouds below, it felt like being by the ocean’s edge, with endless waves stretching to the horizon. Many visitors couldn’t help but marvel at this winter wonderland, exclaiming how utterly magical it was.

— Zhao Meijun, Huangshan Scenic Area Management Committee

Mingsha Mountain—Crescent Moon Spring

Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring Scenic Area (Photo provided)

Falling snow acts like a brush, outlining the clear spring water of Crescent Moon Spring, resembling a silver crescent embedded among the sand dunes. The blue spring water and the falling snow complement each other, creating a tranquil winter scene. As light and shadow spill over the sand dunes, reeds bathe in the sunlight, reflecting a golden glow. The entire Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring are enveloped in a warm atmosphere.

——Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring Scenic Area

Xinjiang Tianshan Tianchi

In winter, the Tianshan Tianchi Lake is covered in silver, with mountains winding like silver serpents, creating a fairy-tale world of tranquility and peace in the interplay of colors between heaven and earth.

With cool winters and warm summers, this is the ideal place for outdoor ice skating and skiing, where people immerse themselves in this icy wonderland.

——Xinjiang Tianchi Management Committee

Longzhong

Colorful autumn leaves enchant visitors. On December 9, the Gulongzhong Scenic Area was a breathtaking sight with layered forests painted in vibrant hues of early winter, drawing many tourists to nature for a relaxing weekend getaway.

— Xiangyang Daily, Li Xuhui

Mount Wutai

Mount Wutai after Snow ( Bishan Temple, Mount Wutai ( Shanxi’s Mount Wutai welcomes visitors with a cool, snowy dance. After the snow, the mountain is wrapped in silver, a vast expanse of white. Walking on the snow-covered ground, you feel the cold but also appreciate this rare snow scene. Peaks, trees, and temples are all blanketed in white, appearing especially peaceful and beautiful. On this cold winter day, I found peace of mind and enjoyed the beauty of nature.

—Liu Li

Jinshanling Great Wall

After snow and wind comes a clear sky, the Golden Mountain Ridge shines in mutual splendor.

— Jing Weidong

BoshanNorthern Landscape ( Winter snow falls from the sky, touching everything like blooming flowers—a handful of early winter white, a pinch of frost under the eaves. The swirling snow drapes Boshan in a “silver coat,” with jade-like trees and icy branches, instantly creating a perfect snowy vibe! The clear blue sky paired with the pure white snow sets the serene tone of Boshan’s winter scenery. When the lively snowflakes meet the towering peaks, it’s like a quiet and beautiful painting, so stunning it makes you linger and forget to leave, so gorgeous it enchants and captivates; simple and elegant, full of charm, with blue skies and white earth blending into one—like a fairy tale world fallen to earth! Standing in it, gazing into the distance, every inch is a scene, and each patch of whiteness holds a deep love for winter.

— Ding Liang, Boshan Scenic Area Management Committee

The Forbidden City

The Mysterious Forbidden City ( On December 13, 2023, Beijing saw its first snowfall of the year. The next morning, I braved a bitter 5-to-6-level wind with my camera and climbed to the top of Jingshan Hill! The sky was heavily overcast, with scattered snowflakes still falling. Looking south toward the Forbidden City, it felt oppressive—not a hint of light, far from the ideal moment to shoot.

After waiting patiently for about an hour, as noon approached, I noticed the dark clouds slowly shifting. Suddenly, a faint sliver of light broke through. At that moment, I realized the snow-covered Forbidden City and that lone gleam in the gloomy sky were exactly what I wanted to capture. The Forbidden City stands majestic, grand, and dignified, and with that tiny ray of light piercing the dark clouds, its mystery was vividly brought to life!

In that instant, I pressed the shutter with my freezing, stiff fingers. Seconds later, the light vanished back into the clouds, never to reappear. This image, The Mysterious Forbidden City, is what I now present to you.

—Zhao Yongqing

Taihu Lake’s Yuantouzhu

Every snowfall feels like a long-awaited reunion. The fluttering snowflakes fully capture the boundless charm of Jiangnan; the silver-white landscape adds a touch of romance to winter at Yuantouzhu.

Snow in Jiangnan arrives with poetic grace and departs with picturesque beauty. As snow falls upon Luding Yinghui, ascend the tower and gaze into the distance—in the tranquility, feel the snowflakes cleansing the dust of the vast world, where the stillness of the wild and the clarity of the wind offer the perfect interpretation.

—Wuxi Taihu Yuantouzhu Scenic Area

West Lake, Hangzhou

After two or three consecutive days of subzero temperatures, ice first appeared in scenic spots like the Pinghu Qiuyue Lotus Area, the Hougushan Lotus Area, Hangzhou Flower Nursery, and Shuangtou Bridge in West Lake Scenic Area.

— Jiang Zhiqing

Mount Sanqing

For those who haven’t seen the snow at Mount Sanqing, they haven’t truly experienced Mount Sanqing. The Sanqingshan Scenic Area, located in the northeast of Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province, is a national scenic area, a national 5A tourist attraction, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, a Global Geopark, a national tourist resort, and a national green tourism demonstration base. Due to its high altitude, the average winter temperature at Mount Sanqing is relatively low, allowing snow and ice landscapes to last longer, creating the unique snow wonders of Mount Sanqing.

After a snowfall, Mount Sanqing is intoxicating—icy and snowy, with branches and willow twigs covered in white, mountain peaks dotted with snow, and snow piling up along the paths. The sky, mountains, and snow naturally complement each other, looking like a fresh and elegant ink-wash painting. The sea of clouds at the mountainside swirls and flows, connecting the high peaks with the sky, like a paradise lost to the world.

— Sanqingshan Scenic Area Management Committee

Shangrao LingshanFairy Road Pointing the Way ( Snow ( Shangrao Lingshan, a national scenic area and a 4A-level tourist attraction, features a hundred-mile stretch of granite shaped stones. Viewed from afar, it resembles a reclining beauty; looked down upon, it appears like a coiled giant dragon. With seventy-two peaks, each uniquely exquisite, and thirty-six waterfalls, each gracefully stunning, Lingshan embodies “magnificence, depth, elegance, and vigor,” characterized by “spirit, steepness, beauty, uniqueness, danger, and illusion,” inspiring boundless imagination.

—Shangrao Lingshan Scenic Area

Luofu Mountain

Photo provided by the Management Committee of Luofu Mountain Scenic Area in Guangdong.

In winter, a cold spell hit Luofu Mountain. The mountain saw its first ice formation of the 2023 winter season. At the summit, Feiyun Peak, standing at an altitude of 1,296 meters, branches and leaves were covered in frost, turning the entire mountaintop into a crystal wonderland, which greatly excited the people of Guangdong. As temperatures dropped sharply, rainwater turned into ice, blanketing the wilderness in a vast, stunning white landscape.

Some icicles looked like exquisite, translucent crystals, while others resembled unsheathed swords—all masterful sculptures crafted by nature, belonging to the icy fairyland of Luofu Mountain in winter. Treetops and leaves were adorned with “crystals,” welcoming Guangdong’s winter in a scene of breathtaking, glittering beauty.

—Management Committee of Luofu Mountain Scenic Area in Guangdong

Jiankou

In the harsh winter, snow fell from the sky as I trudged through the thick snow to the Great Wall. The biting cold pierced my bones, and the fierce wind cut like a knife, yet the fire within me never faded. Camera in hand, I made my way along winding mountain paths, struggling with every step, pushing forward against the odds. The snow and wind masked the Great Wall’s grandeur, but my excitement burned on.

Climbing the steep steps was exhausting, each step a battle. The camera in my hands turned icy cold, but I kept pressing the shutter, capturing those unique scenes and emotions.

Snowflakes landed on my glasses, and the cold seeped into my marrow. But this world was so beautiful that I was willing to give it my all. Through the hardship, I persevered, recording the stunning beauty of the Great Wall with my camera.

—Qu Weiliang

Daocheng Yading

The towering snow-capped mountain stands under the blue sky, with clouds draping like a thin veil over the summit, dreamlike and surreal, while the peak piercing into the clouds glows fiery red under the warm sun.

— He Lianyuan

Ngari, Tibet

The azure lake water mirrors the majestic and varied beauty of the Ali snow mountains; Mount Kailash, a mountain of purity and sanctity.

—He Lianyuan

Jilin Rime IslandPhotographed by He Lianyuan

The rime on Rime Island is breathtakingly stunning.

—He Lianyuan

Mount Everest Mount Qomolangma, the revered peak of all mountains, the roof of the world——admired by all!

— He Lianyuan

Simatai Great Wall

In 1987, the Simatai Great Wall was inscribed on the World Heritage List. It is the only ancient architectural site in China that retains its original Ming Dynasty appearance, designated by UNESCO as the “Original Great Wall.”

— Bai Rijun

Editor | YunshanSource: China Association of Scenic & Historic Sites