Put on your heavy coat and boots. Climb a hill and look down on China’s Forbidden City. Take out your camera and aim for the perfect shot.

Drat—someone jostles your arm. Throngs of people had the same idea you had, and it’s crowded up here. Turns out, everyone wanted to capture a photo of Beijing’s unusual snow!

For many people in Beijing, a snowfall means it’s time to bundle up and head out to take photos. Their subject? A city dotted with traditional architecture. These buildings have stood since the Ming and Qing dynasties. Those family groups ruled the country for hundreds of years. (Learn more about China’s history here.)

Beijing usually has dry weather. It’s rare for multiple snowstorms to come in a row there. Snow hit China on Monday, December 11. Then Wednesday rolled around. More snow. Thursday brought even more. Nearly 200 sections of highways and other roads were closed in 10 provinces. Flights, trains, and buses were canceled.

To celebrate the snow, some people dressed up in traditional clothing. They posed like models in front of the ancient buildings.

The snow brought trouble along with the fun though. In the unusual weather, two subway trains collided. Many people were injured. Pray for the 515 people hurt in the crash.

For to the snow He says, “Fall on the Earth,” likewise to the downpour, His mighty downpour. — Job 37:6