As China struggles to clear train tracks of snow so millions of migrant workers can finally get home for the Lunar New Year, Shanghaiese who remained in town started the holiday early. After 12 years without any white stuff, two solid weeks of rain, sleet and finally snow brought out the kids -- and the kid in everyone else.

Left to right: Shanghai winter from window; at 1933 Old Millfun; at Hangzhou railway station. Photos by Mathieu Borysevicz.

Snowmen began popping up all over town, one more elaborate then the next. Pictured here, next to 1933 Old Millfun, once Asia's largest slaughterhouse and now a new creative industries center, a loopy little snowman with rotating light eyes...or is it a snowgirl? Either way she's prepared for more precip as Shanghai's miserable winter marches on.

Artist/videographer Mathieu Borysevicz is ArtForum's Shanghai correspondent.