It suddenly snows in the Qinling Mountains, and Guanyintang town in Sanmenxia, Henan province is ankles deep in the white stuff. People in this little remote town are then homebound, but no matter how windy it is and how heavy the snowfall is, some people have not respite.

The "railroad icemen" are a group of people who have work to do because ice-breaking is vital for the safety of the railways.

An ice-breaking team from China Railway's Zhengzhou Bureau's Luoyang section are up at 5:30 am. Then, after a brief and hasty breakfast, they embark on their journey deep in the mountains.

Captain Wang Jianhua, 55, leads the way, accompanied by eight team members.

Thanks to the wind and snowflakes, their clothes are wet in no time.

Meanwhile, trains meander through the mountains in the Guanyintang Tunnel, part of the Lanzhou-Lianyungang Railway, one of China's busiest lines.