(DALIANNEWS)-The 10th Dalian International Winter Swimming Festival kicked off at the Golden Pebble Beach in Dalian, a coastal city of Northeastern China’s Liaoning Province, October 22, 2011.

The city of Dalian was rewarded as China’s Demonstration City of Winter Swimming during the opening ceremony.

The three-day festival which attracted 5,000 participants in almost 15 teams at home and abroad included an opening ceremony, a winter swimming calligraphy and painting contest, a swimming performance in the sea as well as a series of swimming competitions.

At the same time, the 10th China International Winter Swimming Invitation Competition and the 18th National Winter Swimming Championships were also held during the festival.