Wuhan, Hubei Province: A winter swimmer dries off beside a ship stranded along the Yangtze River, January 27, 2008. The Yangtze is at its lowest water level since record-keeping began in 1866.

Nanjing, Jiangsu Province: A snowman warns passersby, “Caution, slippery road!” January 28, 2008. Nearly 78 million people in 14 provinces of China have been affected by the worst winter weather in a decade.

Guangzhou, Guangdong Province: Police keep order among the more than 800,000 holiday passengers stranded due to heavy snow in the Guangzhou Railway Station, January 30, 2008.

Wuhan, Hubei Province: Snow blankets downtown Wuhan, the largest city in central China and a major transportation hub, January 29, 2008.

Shanghai: A woman photographs a snowman in the guise of a Chinese revolutionary figure, January 29, 2008.

Wuhan, Hubei Province: A man moves a bike carrying goods after a heavy snow, January 27, 2008.

Beijing: A security official rides a bicycle in the snow near the construction site of the national stadium, dubbed “the bird nest” by local residents, January 17, 2008. The final venue to be completed for the 2008 Olympic Games, the stadium is slated to open in April.