Can something be cold and warm at the same time?

Most definitely, as visitors to the Longqingxia Ice Lantern Festival in the Yanqing district of Beijing found out on Sunday.

It was a showcase of colourfully lighted ice sculptures emitting warm, inviting glows.

This year's festival features the Winter Olympics theme. Yanqing is one of the competing areas for the 2022 Beijing Games.

Having previously hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing will become the first city ever to host both the Summer and the Winter Olympic Games.

The ice lantern festival in Longqingxia is also part of the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, which start on Friday.