A period of intense cold has transformed a river in the Karatohai Wetland in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, revealing rare natural formations known as “ice woods”.

As the river froze, water continuing to flow beneath the surface traced delicate, branching patterns across the ice. From above, the markings spread outward like tree limbs, forming intricate designs that appeared to grow from the frozen river itself. Light snowfall settled into the grooves, further defining the shapes and lending them a soft, ink-wash quality reminiscent of traditional Chinese paintings.

Some patterns suggested slender young trees, while others curled and stretched like weathered trunks. Subtle textures in the ice caught the light, and thin layers of snow added a gentle haze, giving the wetland a calm, wintry atmosphere shaped by both movement and stillness.

Source: China Central Television