Vehicles travel on the street as heavy snow falls in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, December 4, 2008. Vast areas from north to central China are experiencing a rare strong cold wave front in recent years, which have forced 26 provinces and municipalities to issue cold weather alerts. [Xinhua]

People pose for a picture among snow-covered trees in Aershan, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, December 4, 2008. Vast areas from north to central China are experiencing a rare strong cold wave front in recent years, which have forced 26 provinces and municipalities to issue cold weather alerts. [Xinhua]