Performers in traditional Mongolian clothing perform at the opening ceremony of the third Ordos Ice and Snow Carnival as well the 9th Ordos Ice and Snow Tourist Cultural Festival held in Dongsheng district in Ordos, a city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Dec 15. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos Release]

The opening ceremony for the thirrd Ordos Ice and Snow Carnival and the 9th Ordos Ice and Snow Tourist Cultural Festival was held in Dongsheng district in Ordos, a city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Dec 15.

Sponsored by Ordos department of culture and tourism and Dongsheng district government, this year's event is themed around "romantic ice and snow festival, passionate Ordos" and will last until March 8, 2020.

At the opening ceremony, local performers presented a wonderful themed parade to display the charm and vitality of Ordos winter tourism, attracting the participation of local citizens and tourists from all over the world.

Series of activities for the Ordos ice and snow tourist cultural festival have been held since 2011. It is not only Ordos's first well-known activity brand with ice and snow as the theme, but also the key project of local winter tourism. It has also become an important platform for the promotion of ice and snow culture, and ice and snow sports.

According to officials, this year's event has added an activity based on local foods where people can taste various Ordos specialties. In addition to ice and snow carnival and ice and snow sports, organizers of the event have set up a nighttime skiing activity for the first time.

During the three-month event, the eighth teenagers winter camp, the third Ordos ice and snow nadam, traditional new year activities, a food festival and other important activities will be held, as well as a ski invitational tournament, a fun ice and snow sports meeting, a snow auto rally and many other competitions.