Vehicles travel on the street after a heavy snow in Meihekou, northeast China's Jilin 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]

Young people practice iceskating in the city of Yakeshi, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, December 4, 2007. 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]