It’s been a foggy (and unusually damp) week in Beijing, which has had the unfortunate effect of locking in all that lovely air pollution, pushing the US Embassy’s air particle index up past the 400 (dangerous) mark for the past three days. State news agency Xinhua, however, says relief is on the way.

Unless you've been asleep for the past 12 hours you'll know Beijing finally had its first snow for this winter last night. We took some snaps of the fall around town this morning.

The 100 is up! Congratulations Beijing. You’ve reached triple figures, wave the bat with pride. It’s been a fine knock, a fine century, definitely a knock straight from the top drawer. What a way to dry things up!

Beijingers are excited over the city's first snowfall yesterday that made its way into parts of Haidian District. Except it wasn’t the first snowfall, there wasn’t enough to make it count, which leaves everyone still waiting for some sign of winter, other than bone-chilling cold.

Been felling chilly? Xinhua has reported (Chinese only) that yesterday saw the most extreme mid-December lows for ten years, with temperatures dropping to -11 in the early hours of yesterday morning. In fact, the mercury failed to get above zero all day.

Another outdoor ice rink has been added to Beijing’s ever-growing collection of winter playgrounds. Conveniently located at Workers' Stadium East Gate, the 1,248 sq meter open air facility is open daily until 10pm.

It seems north China isn’t the only region experiencing extreme weather conditions. As Beijing deals with the aftermath of the heaviest snowfalls in more than half a century, parts of Europe and the US are also buried under unusually thick layers of snow, while Greece and Israel enjoy unseasonably warm conditions.

Officials fear this obesity epidemic could mean dire consequences for the snow people community.

The rate of obesity in Beijing’s snow people population has risen by approximately 95% in the last 5 weeks, government officials say.

You don't have to go to Dongbei to enjoy skiing and snowboarding this winter. Check out Beijing's snow sports options.

Winter is here.

Many will be hibernating until spring. But some of us are polar bears, and to us, the frosty paradises of Dongbei call.

Only 40km outside of Jilin City, Jilin province, this jewel of frigid Dongbei has earned itself a reputation as a photographer’s paradise.