A pair of king penguins that visited northeast China's Shenyang city over the weekend have laid an egg, which became a special gift for the city's International Ice and Snow Festival.

If a chick hatches from the egg, its value is estimated at 30,000 U.S. Dollars.
Animal experts said that the precious egg would be hatched artificially.

King penguins are the second largest penguin, standing 85-95 centimetres tall. They have a patch of bright golden-orange feathers on their neck. They raise only two young birds every three years.

Editor: Han Yueling