How to Plan a Winter Trip to China 2024/2025

Stunning Sightseeing

The large China can meet your different needs of a warm, cold or comfortable winter trip with distinct sceneries to marvel at. The northern area, especially Harbin, Jilin, Liaoning and Beijing and some areas in Sichuan, Huangshan, Zhangjiajie, Tibet, Xijiang, Qinghai, etc. will be turned into white by winter snow, so it is best to immerse into those fairyland under blue sky or ignited by colorful LEDs. While in the southern part of China like Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Sanya, etc., the best temperature around 15-25 gives the perfect comfort to release with sunshine, blue sea, azure sky, fresh sea food, fresher air, etc. While, some special natural gifts from nature welcome its most beautiful time in winter for superb photography visiting, such as Yuanyang, etc.!

Winter Activities

China also boasts abundant professional winter resorts to have great fun with the exciting skiing, sledding, skating, snowmobiling, etc. Yabuli Ski Resort with the Asia longest ski trail, Xiling Snow Mountain with largest alpine ski resort in South China, etc. are your best recommendation to play with snow in winter!

Lower Prices

Winter season is relatively a tourist off season for majority destinations in China, so you can enjoy very good discounts on the flights tickets, entrance fees of tourist attractions, hotels, and so forth to save a lot!

Fewer Tourists

In the cold winter months, much fewer people go outside for traveling, therefore, it is the best time to avoid crowds, have more advantageous angles to see the beautiful sightseeing, spend less time waiting in the queue and spend a more relaxing trip!

Various Festivals

Particularly from December to February, there are quite a lot diverse festivals celebrated across China, such as Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, Winter Fishing Festival, etc. in north China, Zigong Lantern Festival, Grand Song Festival in Guizhou, traditional Chinese Spring Festival, Christmas celebration, etc. All those distinct festivals will let you feel the diverse wonderful culture in China and immerse into the jubilant atmosphere in your trip!

Beijing in north China is the capital city of China and is the best place to marvel at the royal architectures since Ming and Qing dynasties, where you should not miss the majestic Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, etc. And also the miracle Great Wall project standing for thousands of years. Apart from those ancient buildings looking more magnificent and quaint under white snow, it is also a fun thing to ride a rickshaw around the local old Beijing Hutongs and have a look at the beautiful Birds Nest and Water Cube once held the 28th Beijing Olympic Games in 2008!

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Beijing Travel Guide | Things to Do in Beijing | Weather in Beijing

Popular Beijing Tour Packages:

▶ 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package (Leisure Paced)

▶ 3 Days Beijing Essential Short Stay Tour (Visa Free)

More Hot Beijing Tours

Shanghai in east China as another best gateway city is also popular in winter. Being one of the economic centers in Asia, it is where to see the modern China with the world top tallest skyscrapers to overlook the large dazzling city. This international place actually preserves the favored The Bund for a cool walk along the exquisite galley of abundant ancient international architectures from the period of World War I. However, you will easily spend joyous days playing in the classic gardens, poetic water towns, children and adults dreaming Shanghai Disneyland, etc. for a new and happy winter trip!

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Shanghai Travel Guide | Things to Do in Shanghai | Weather in Shanghai

Popular Shanghai Tour Packages:

▶ 3 Days Shanghai Past and Present Contrast Tour

▶ 4 Days Shanghai Magic Tour with Disneyland Park

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Xian in central China is another important ancient capital city, besides Beijing. This historic capital of 13 Chinese ancient dynasties from about 1,000 BC to 900 AD keeps extremely rich historical cultural sites and relics for the discovery of authentic history of ancient China, no omitting the world impressive large scaled Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Also, you are highly recommended to walk on the uneven Ancient City Wall to imagine the past prosperous, closely look at valuable collections at Shaanxi History Museum, hang around Muslim Quarter for snacks satisfaction, extend to hike on Huashan Mountain, etc. to feel the unique charm of ancient Xian!

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Xian Travel Guide | Things to Do in Xian | Weather in Xian

Popular Xian Tour Packages:

▶ 3 Days Classic Xian Tour (Best Highlights Plus Enjoyable Pace)

▶ 4 Days Xian Highlights Tour with Mount Huashan Hiking

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Chengdu in southwest China is absolutely the best place to close up with those super adorable and chubby giant pandas and see their leisure life style at their real and leisure hometown. You are definitely extremely recommended to walk around the People’s Park, Jinli Old Street, Kuaizhai Alleys, Wenshu Monastery, Wuhou Temple, Qingyang Taoist Temple, etc. and have a surprising taste of the mouth-watering hot pot and Sichuan cuisines to savor its authentic leisure life and food temptation. Besides, an extensional visit to Mount Qingcheng and Dujiangyan Irrigation System is a classic way to inhale fresh air like Chengdu citizens and figure out why Chengdu is called Land of Abundance!

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Chengdu Travel Guide | Places to Visit in Chengdu | Weather in Chengdu

Popular Chengdu Tour Packages:

▶ 2 Days Best Chengdu Leshan Giant Buddha Tour

▶ 4 Days Classic Leshan Buddha & Mount Emei Tour from Chengdu

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Guilin in south China is reputed as one of the top 4 classic destinations in China due to its incomparable mountain and water landscape. Countless karst hump hills rising around the verdant land makes Guilin the fairytale hidden city in reality! For the best scenery and vacation fun, make sure to take the sightseeing cruise along Li River praised as hundred mile long gallery to let all the distinct karst mountains floating by. After sailing down to Yangshuo, embrace the refreshing countryside view of the lovely karst hills, clear winding Yulong River, patched fields, scattered rural houses, bustling West Street, etc. for a comfortable getaway!

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Guilin Travel Guide | Things to Do in Guilin | Weather in Guilin

Popular Guilin Tour Packages:

▶ 4 Days Guilin Highlights Tour (Li River, Yangshuo & Longji Terrace)

▶ 5 Days Best Guilin In-depth Vacation (Li River, Yangshuo & Longji Terrace)

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Three Gorges is the best highlight on Yangtze River which is one of the two great mother rivers in China and the world third longest river. With magnificent and peculiar high gorges, flat water, and fabulous natural view around the year, Three Gorges is one of the top popular natural choices for international visitors. Particularly in winter, it is beautifully dressed by the full mountains of red leaves for annual sightseeing gift! Taking a luxury Yangtze River cruise is the best way to catch all the stunning landscape of the gorges and the golden Yangtze section from Chongqing to Yichang which covers many interesting cultural and historical sites and reputable hidden sightseeing gems!

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Yangtze River Cruise Travel Guide | What to See for Yangtze River Cruise | Weather of Yangtze River

Popular Yangtze River Cruise Tour Packages:

▶ 4 Days Chongqing Essence Tour with Yangtze River Cruise (downstream)

▶ 7 Days Shanghai & Yangtze Cruise Tour (Upstream)

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Harbin in northeast China is called “Ice City” for its appealing ice landscape in winter! Every year from December to February or early March, the grand Harbin Ice and Snow Festival attracts numerous domestic and international visitors to closely marvel at the dazzling sculptures of ice and snow at Ice and Snow World and Sun Island to see the natural and manual artistic works. The professional Yabuli Ski Resorts and other domestic top sites will be your wonderland to enjoy skiing and other joyous and cool sports on ice and snow. Further more, you shall not miss to visit the famous China Snow Town to see the thick snow like milk cream covering the rural houses and village. What a dreamy wonderland of snow! Extend to Jilin City also in northeast China, and you will admire the mysterious rime spectacle at Wusong Island!

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Harbin Travel Guide | Things to Do in Harbin | Weather in Harbin

Popular Harbin Tour Packages:

▶ 5 Days Charming Harbin & China Snow Town Winter Tour

▶ 3 Days Classic Harbin Winter Tour

More Hot Harbin Tours

Mount Emei close to Chengdu in Sichuan is a rare UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage site and one of the Four Great Buddhist Mountains in China! With a altitude of 3099 meters, Mount Emei is a popular snow mountain resort to go in winter to appreciate the thick snow covered mountain landscape in white, translucent rimes, blue sky, etc. And also, the around 30 Buddhist temples with snow cover looks much more quaint and solemn in peace and serene for a culture savory! What’s more, after you reaching to the Golden Summit at the peak, you will admire the resplendent Buddhist architectures with groups of believers worshiping and the spectacular view of the sunrise, sea of clouds, light of Buddha, and more natural miracles!

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Mount Emei Travel Guide | Things to Do in Mount Emei | Weather in Mount Emei

Popular Mount Emei Tour Packages:

▶ 2 Days Mount Emei Leisure Hiking Tour from Chengdu

▶ 4 Days Classic Leshan Buddha & Mount Emei Tour from Chengdu

More Hot Mount Emei Tours

Huangshan or Yellow Mountain in Anhui in east China is also a UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage. With its unique five wonders of “Odd-shaped Pines, Spectacular Rocky Peaks, Sea of Clouds, Hot Spring and Winter Snow”, Yellow Mountain is praised as “No mountain is worth seeing after a trip to Huangshan Mountain”. The original spectacular rockery mountains changed into white and quiet in winter months by the snow dress, that’s why visitors and photographers visit there for outstanding landscape photos. Followed by a releasing hot spring, it is quite amazing to have a nice walk among the traditional Hui styled rural villages like Hongcun, Xidi, etc. to appreciate the exquisite ancient architecture treasures!

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Huangshan Travel Guide | Things to Do in Huangshan | Weather in Huangshan

Popular Huangshan Tour Packages:

▶ 3 Days Huangshan Highlights Leisure Tour (Back Mountain + West Sea Grand Canyon)

▶ 4 Days Best Huangshan Tour with Hongcun & Xidi Ancient Villages

▶ 4 Days Huangshan Hongcun Winter Vacation with Hot Spring

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Xiling Snow Mountain near Chengdu in southwest China is another hot ski resort for ski lovers! Boasting the largest alpine ski resort in south China and quite a lot professional and advanced equipment and tools, Xiling Snow Mountain is loved by international tourists as “Ski Wonderland”. Therefore, take your holiday to have the best fun with skiing, snowmobiling, snow cubing, zorbing, and so forth to laugh and release at ease! Cablecar there will take you up to see the pure white snow scenery, and also, you will meet the fascinating view of sea of clouds after walking higher to the peak!

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Xiling Snow Mountain | Weather at Xiling Snow Mountain | From Chengdu to Xiling Snow Mountain

Popular Xiling Snow Mountain Tour Packages:

▶ 2 Days Xiling Snow Mountain Ski Tour

▶ 4 Days Chengdu & Xiling Snow Mountain Winter Tour

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Jiuzhaigou Valley in north Sichuan is known as the most beautiful landscape in China with multi-level waterfalls, crystal waters and colorful lake. This fairyland changes into a real unreal fairy tale world in winter with snowfall, therefore, you will be able to savor the incredible sightseeing of a pure white mountains with leafy forests surrounding the peaceful grass-like lakes in green and blue. Guess if there are fairies living there at Jiuzhai Valley? Besides, Huanglong National Park together listed as World Natural Heritage with Jiuzhaigou gives you more surprises from winter to appreciate layers of elegant blue and green calcified ponds with yellow and golden belts!

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Jiuzhaigou Travel Guide | Things to Do in Jiuzhaigou | Weather in Jiuzhaigou

Popular Jiuzhaigou Tour Packages:

▶ 3 Days Classic Jiuzhaigou Tour (Flight Arrival)

▶ 4 Days Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Highlights Tour from Chengdu by Private Car

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Yunnan in southwest China is popular all around the year with its particularly pleasant weather not too hot or too cold. This rich land is fabulous to enjoy the bright landscapes of mountains, lakes, rivers, old towns, parks, etc. for visual enjoyment and also great to get close to the wonderful ethnic culture of local minority people such as Bai, Naxi, Yi, Tibetan, etc. You can land from Kunming to wander in Stone Forest with a savory of the comfortable leisure life in the city, take a bullet train to Dali to admire the shimmering Erhai Lake and walk in Dali Old Town, transfer to Lijiang to walk in the crossing Lijiang Old Town, look over Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, hike along Tiger Leaping Gorge, etc. to catch all the essences of the colorful Yunnan. Besides, Yuanyang Rice Terraces will be most beautiful in winter to see the thousands layers of terraced fields filled with water and the reflection of the changing colors of the sky and clouds!

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Yunnan Travel Guide | Things to Do in Yunnan | Weather in Yunnan

Popular Yunnan Tour Packages:

▶ 6 Days Yunnan Essence Tour (Kunming, Dali & Lijiang)

▶ 5 Days Kunming Lijiang High Speed Train Tour

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Xiamen in Fujian in southeast China is a favored coastal city with featured literal charm, where to stroll at the World Heritage Site of Gulangyu Island gathering over 50 historical international architectures, classic gardens and interesting streets with shops and stores. Fine sunshine and temperate weather makes any simple walk along the streets in the city a pleasant way in a vacation. Besides, nearly all travelers extend to Yongding or Nanjing to have a close look at the famous Fujian Tulou clusters recorded into UNESCO World Heritage, which is characteristic with the special structure of round and rectangle shapes and the harmonious gathering life of multiple households!

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Xiamen Travel Guide | Things to Do in Xiamen | Weather in Xiamen

Popular Xiamen Tour Packages:

▶ 2 Days Xiamen City Tour with Gulangyu Island

▶ 3 Days Xiamen City Leisure Tour

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Comparing the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are probably more famous to you. This large area located in the very south China is quite warm in winter and pleasant to spend a wonderful vacation with delicious food, relaxing sea view, world famous attractions and more! Hong Kong as the world economic center gives you the super look at the richest area of the world, top best skyline and night view, crazing discounts, exciting Disneyland, etc. The nearby Macao gives more romantic exotic flavor to seek the UNESCO historical architecture groups, taste special Portuguese cuisines and take a risk in the global famous casinos. And in Guangzhou, you will encounter with the traditional Cantonese culture, savor the delicious Cantonese cuisines and snacks, look at the fantastic urban central axis, and play happily in the large Chimelong Safari! While in Shenzhen, enjoy sunshine at the beautiful coastal line and walk in the city and the museum to find how to develop a world prosperous city within 50 years!

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Hong Kong Travel Guide | Things to Do in Hong Kong | Weather in Hong Kong

Macao Travel Guide | Things to Do in Macao | Weather in Macao

Guangzhou Travel Guide | Things to Do in Guangzhou | Weather in Guangzhou

Shenzhen Travel Guide | Things to Do in Shenzhen | Weather in Shenzhen

Popular Greater Bay Area Tour Packages:

4 Days Hong Kong Guangzhou Sightseeing & Food Tour (By Bullet Train)

▶ 8 Days Amazing Greater Bay Area Tour

▶ 6 Days Hong Kong Guangzhou Macau Cultural Highlights Tour

More Hot Greater Bay Area Tours | Hong Kong Tours | Macao Tours | Guangzhou Tours | Shenzhen Tours

Sanya at the southernmost China is the golden medal beach resort to bathe in the sun and enjoy everything off and in the sea! Lay on the chair or just on the beach and enjoy the quiet hours dating with sunshine, wind from sea, fresh air, blue sea, blue sky and white clouds! Any worries will be left behind your head! Apart from the releasing, Sanya has quite abundant activities for your challenge and fun, such as swimming, underwater diving, water scooter, surfing, motorboating, etc. After consuming your energy, glut yourself with the fresh seafood like lobster, abalone, squid, etc. Isn’t it a big treat for anyone?

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Sanya Travel Guide | Things to Do in Sanya | Weather in Sanya

Popular Sanya Tour Packages:

▶ 4 Days Sanya Beach Resort Tour

▶ 5 Days Sanya Classic Vacation Tour with Luxury Hotel

▶ 6 Days In-depth Luxury Sanya Tour with Two Free Days

More Hot Sanya Tours

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Top Winter Destinations in China | Top Winter Destinations with Snow in China | Top Warm-weathered Destinations in China

What to Do in China during a Winter trip? You do not have to worry! Join the international ice and snow festival, hike on the snow covered Great Wall, enjoy pleasant sunshine with ethnic minority culture in Kunming and Lijiang, marvel at fabulous sightseeing of Yuanyang Rice Terraces, etc. You may be just lack of a longer vacation to enjoy them all!

Join the Grand Harbin Ice & Snow Festival

To spend a standard winter holiday and particularly visiting the snow place, you shall not miss this it! Join in the annual grand Harbin Ice & Snow Festival to get immersed into the terrific wonderland with thousands of ice sculptures of towers, architectures, figures, landscapes, etc., which is extremely charming with the colorful LED lights. Also no omitting to the other favored International Snow Sculpture Exhibition Fair held on Sun Island to see distinct pure white sculptures from snow, with the blue sky being the best backdrop, this gathering in the day is the best match to the ice sculpture at night!

▶ 3 Days Harbin Ice Festival Tour

Hike on Snow-covered Beijing Great Wall

Great Wall in Beijing is popular all year round. And in winter, those historical wall winding on the mountains are covered with snow in a much more solemn and quaint feature. Walking on the Great Wall to touch the old brick relics and overlooking the vast mountain range is quite welcomed by visitors. And Mutianyu Great Wall and Jinshanling Great Wall with fewer visitors are more recommended!

▶ 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package

▶ 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour with Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking

Enjoy the Sun Bath in Lijiang & Kunming

Visitors prefer a warmer winter vacation would plan a trip to Kunming and Lijiang in Yunnan! Spend some days in the two cities with pleasant temperature to soak in their wonderful splendid ethnic minority culture of local groups, charming natural landscapes of mountains, lakes, streets, gardens, etc., and comfortable laid-back life pace, which is really ideal for a relaxing and warm winter!

▶ 5 Days Kunming Lijiang High Speed Train Tour

Marvel at Creamy Snow Covered China Snow Town

Walk into China Snow Town, the No.1 snow town in China, to appreciate the unbelievably lovely village where white cream-like snow covering the roofs, eaves, stubs, fences, roads, mountains, etc. Catch the sunrise view with curling smoke from kitchen and marvel at the dreamy night view with pink, orange and red lights ignite the village like a fairyland village!

▶ 5 Days Charming Harbin & China Snow Town Winter Tour

Admire Fabulous Rimes at Wusong Island

Admire Fabulous Rimes at Wusong Island Rime at Wusong Island in Jilin City is one of the four natural miracles in China, which only appears in winter months with numerous visitors. Visit this dreamy place to catch the mysterious sunrise to outline the shape of the branches and trunks. All the translucent white rimes are changed into romantic rose, orange, pink, etc. with the sunglow. Take a walk in this white snow wonderland under blue sky is too amazing to be true!

>> 4 Days Harbin Ice & Snow Festival with Jilin Wusong Island Tour

>> 7 Days Amazing Northeast China Winter Tour with Changbai Mountain & Wusong Island

Feast Eyes with Awesome Yuanyang Rice Terraces

So many travelers and photographers visit Yuanyang in winter to see its best beauty during these colder months. Hike in the famous Yuanyang Rice Terraces to appreciate the outstanding masterpiece of nature and human wisdom. Thousands layers of rice terraces are filled with water to mirror the changing colors and images of the sky, clouds, glows, etc. in blue, green, golden, orange, pink, purple, and so on, which is like the broken mirror by god!

▶ 3 Days Yuanyang Rice Terraces & Hani Culture Discovery Tour

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Top Things to Do in China in Winter