Cars race ahead, as an ice and snow auto rally kick-starts in the Changbai Mountains on Feb 25. [Photo/Changbaishan Release]

Excitement was in the air and adrenaline pumping overtime when the annual auto rally kicked off in the Changbai Mountains in Northeast China's Jilin province on Feb 25, attracting competitors from across the country, according to local media reports.

The three-day ice and snow rally, with 100 cars participating, was divided into three stages: a 2 kilometer super ice and snow road stage for qualifying the field, a 40 km ice and snow road stage in virgin forest and a 10 km ice and snow road stage for the main peak of the Changbai Mountains.

Competitors hit the road hard and fast during the start of the auto rally, on Feb 25. [Photo/Changbaishan Release]

The event is a well-respected one in the rallying world, combining off-road challenges with an ice and snow rally.

The Changbai Mountains have a long and strong tradition in offering winter sports. With their rich natural ice and snow resources, arresting slopes and thick forests, they are seen as being a superb place to challenge competitors. 

In the annual ice and snow rally, the entire route traverses natural forest off-road tracks.