Contestants are photographed for the activity. [Photo/china.com.cn]

National costumes display on the runway at the rehearsals. [Photo/northnews.cn]

Women from across China, Russia and Mongolia have been arriving in the city of Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia, as preparations are underway for the prelims of the 12th Miss China-Russia-Mongolia contest which will be held here, on Dec 22.

When they get here, the women go through a location photography and a stage show that runs Dec 13-14 in Ergun and Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, with the latter being a rehearsal for the contest, which has a national costumes performance, swimsuit show and a national culture show.

There are 60 contestants in all - 15 from China, 30 from Russia and 15 from Mongolia.