The Beijing Municipal Winter Swimming Club, now has 2,000 paying members, including 1,200 to 1,400 who swim regularly in the winter!

In winter the temperature can be as cold as -15 Celsius and the lake freezes over. The cold however doesn't stop die hard locals donning their swimmers and taking the plunge.

I chatted to one swimmer Mr Li who told me that he swims in the lake all year round. I photographed him taking a chilly dip in Houhai lake in central Beijing. He carried a couple of litres of 'clean' water which he used rinse his body off after the swim before heading home on his bicycle.