Soldiers help fishermen to tie boats at Zhifu Island in eastern China's Shandong Province, Jan. 17, 2011. The thickness of the freezing ice has amounted to 15 to 20 centimeters due to continuous cold waves while most offshore activities were forced to be halted.

Fishing boats are seen stranded in the iced surface at Zhifu Island in eastern China's Shandong Province, Jan. 17, 2011. The thickness of the freezing ice has amounted to 15 to 20 centimeters due to continuous cold waves while most offshore activities were forced to be halted.