XINING - The 2012 Qinghai International Winter Yellow River Crossing Challenge will be held from January 6 to 7 in Guide County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, said organizers on Wednesday.

The race will take place over 2,200 meters above the sea level, said Tsering Thar, director of the Qinghai provincial sports administration.

Forty swimmers from China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will compete in the extreme high altitude climate where the water temperature will be about four degree Celsius.

Qinghai International Yellow River Crossing Challenge has been held annually in summer for seven years, attracting about 400 domestic and foreign swimmers.

Qinghai held the first Winter Yellow River Crossing Challenge this February.