Exquisitely delicate rime ice now adorning the trees creates a spectacular sight in Alshaa League. [Photo by Zhang Limin/For chinadaily.com.cn]

With the passing of a cold front recently, Alshaa League in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has been blessed with the natural beauty of soft rime.

One of nature's wonders, the fragile rime on the trees creates a spectacular sight, turning the area into an ethereal, mystical landscape.

Even this area of desert in Alshaa is not spared the frosty rime. [Photo by Zhang Limin/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Rime is a special type of frost– in fact, granular tufts of ice - that appears only when atmospheric conditions are right and water vapor meets cold air. In the autumn and winter, mist condenses in the form of frost which engulfs the surrounding branches when it's hyper cold, creating the natural phenomenon.

Delicate filigrees of rime cover trees in Alshaa League. [Photo by Zhang Limin/For chinadaily.com.cn]

This sweeping view depicts the awe-inspiring landscape of Alshaa League, especially so when engulfed by rime. [Photo by Zhang Limin/For chinadaily.com.cn]