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Chilling out - Yichun Visitors brave subzero temperatures to float around in ice water

Chilling out - Yichun Visitors brave subzero temperatures to float around in ice water

"An unfrozen stretch of the river in Yichun, in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, is drawing tourists seeking an unusual winter thrill: ice floating in temperatures plunging to minus 40 degrees Celsius. Footage filmed on Tuesday shows visitors drifting along the river in bright red, high-tech cold-protection suits. Their rounded appearance has inspired the playful nickname of ‘crayfish ice floating', as participants dabble and bob along the shallow riverbed. 
 "I saw this experience on Xiaohongshu and thought it was incredibly strange yet adventurous,” said Wang, a tourist from Shanxi province. "I was worried it would be far too cold, but once I put on the suit, I didn’t feel cold at all. It’s high-tech, and there are professionals keeping us safe, so I felt completely at ease."
 Wang explained how the deep silence was one of the most striking aspects of the experience. 

"Lying in the water, it was so incredibly quiet - all you could hear was the gentle rush of the water. Then you can still hear that cracking sound of ice shattering. I find this experience incredibly fascinating—being in such bitter cold yet feeling this contrast of constant warmth. It's truly remarkable," she added. 
 Some local residents expressed their surprise at the activity's sudden surge in popularity. 

"As a local, I never imagined our hometown would have such a popular winter activity - floating ‘crayfish’ on this freezing cold day. I was really hesitant to get on the river because I worried it might not be safe. Later, I saw our staff carefully selecting a river section that's exceptionally safe," said Lin, a Yichun resident.

Project manager Lin Xin said safety is the top priority. Participants wear safety harnesses attached to ropes, while professional staff monitor conditions from the riverbank and accompany floaters throughout the route.
 "The river experience is like being a leaf, requiring a sense of weightlessness. Even our ‘crayfish’ outfits bear some resemblance to spacesuits. From a personal perspective, once you slip into this rafting gear, all you can hear is your own breathing and the river's flowing water, making for an exceptionally immersive experience," he explained. 
 Although still a niche activity in China, ice floating is attracting a growing number of thrill-seekers, with local authorities hoping to turn the extreme conditions into a catalyst for winter tourism. "

'Why Should Anybody Believe You?': Nick Robinson Monsters Labour Minister Over Latest U-Turn

'Why Should Anybody Believe You?': Nick Robinson Monsters Labour Minister Over Latest U-Turn

Nick Robinson grilled Heido Alexander on the Today programme. Nick Robinson monstered a Labour cabinet minister after Keir Starmer’s latest U-turn on compulsory digital ID cards . The veteran BBC broadcaster asked “why should anyone believe” what the government announces given the prime minister’s track record of climbdowns. It was confirmed on Tuesday night that digital ID will no longer be mandatory for anyone seeking work in the UK – despite Starmer saying it would be when he announced the policy last September. Incredibly, it was the 13th U-turn by the government since Labour’s general election victory 18 months ago. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander was forced to defend the government’s position in a round of broadcast interviews on Wednesday. On Radio 4′s Today programme, Robinson told her: “It’s as simple as this, isn’t it? No one has any idea which policy this government will stick to. You announce things, and you abandon them. You make U-turns. “There have been two this year, it’s only 14 days in to 2026. You made one just before Christmas. Why should anybody believe the words you’ve just uttered ... or the words of a press release when again and again ministers scrap their own announcements?” Earlier in the interview, Alexander had insisted the government was still “committed to mandatory digital right to work checks”. But she admitted that producing a digital ID card would not just be “one way” of someone proving they have the right to work in the UK. Meanwhile, former Labour home secretary David Blunkett has also attacked the digital ID U-turn. He said: “I’m disappointed but I’m not surprised, because the original announcement was not followed by a narrative or supportive statements or any kind of strategic plan which involved other ministers or those who are committed to this actually making the case. “As a consequence, those who were opposed to the scheme for all kinds of nefarious and very different reasons, some of them inexplicable, were able to mobilise public opinion and get the online opposition up and running.” Related... Keir Starmer Ditches Compulsory Digital ID In 13th U-Turn Since Becoming Prime Minister Exclusive: Keir Starmer Facing Mounting Labour Rebellion Over Digital ID Cards