Hot and cold, but mostly cool

Wintertime in Guizhou province is a time and place where people move to the silent "song of ice and fire".

Bing yu huo zhi ge is a local saying that refers not to literal music but rather to skiing down the slopes followed by soaking in hot springs. Steam seeps from hot pools to infuse the mist that wreathes mountains in these unique landscapes of limestone pits and peaks.

Guizhou has long been celebrated for its scenic skylines sliced by karst blades and whittled into honeycombs oozing with warm water. But the "song of ice and fire" shows that these fantastical formations can be enjoyed beyond their beauty and offer actual activities during the chillier months of the year.