How to Plan a Winter Travel in China: Places to Go & Weather

Winter (December to February) is a cost-effective and less-crowded time to explore China. China has multiple winter attractions/activities.

• Fun and well-equipped ski resorts
• Beautiful wintry scenic areas
• Places in south China like Yunnan that have mild weather all year round
• Special winter festivals such as Harbin Ice and Snow Festival and the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), adding spice to the cool winter

Use this page to plan your winter holiday. Our winter travel guide includes:

• Top 8 China Winter Destinations
• How is the Weather in Winterin China
• How to Pack for China Winter Travel

Top 8 China Winter Destinations

Below is a list of China's prime winter destinations, from snow-covered landscape in North China to warm and fascinating subtropical South China.

1. Harbin - Ice and Snow Festival, Skiing

The Ice and Snow Festival is undoubtedly Harbin's most famous attraction. The official opening ceremony is usually on January 5th each year, but the biggest venue Harbin Ice and Snow World is open from December 17th, 2022. The festival will last for around 2 months from late December to February. During the festival, Harbin is changed into a world of ice sculptures.

Fanciful and elaborate ice and snow sculptures in the shapes of animals, plants, buildings or motifs taken from legends sparkle in the frigid air in three main venues.

• Harbin Ice and Snow World — a colorful "Ice Disneyland"
• Sun Island — snow sculpture exposition
• Zhaolin Park — small but Lovely Ice Lanterns

Check One-Day Harbin Ice and Snow Fairyland Tour for a cost-effective itinerary with less crowds. 

Winter trips to Harbin often include the Siberian Tiger Park and nearby Yabuli Ski Resort (Club Med Yabuli) (3 hours' drive from Harbin), and a trip to see the enchanting rime scenery of Changbaishan.

Get inspiration from 7-Day Harbin, China Snow Town, and Changbai Mountain Tour or 6-Day Harbin Ice Festival and Yabuli Club Med Tour. Both could be tailor made to meet your interests and schedule. 

2. Mt. Changbaishan - Snow, Skiing, Frozen Heavenly Lake

Rafting on a hot spring river at the foot of Changbai Mountain

Winter is the most beautiful season at Mt. Changbaishan. It is considered a ski paradise and one of the best areas to enjoy snow scenery in China.The forest sea of ​​Mt. Changbaishan is white with snow and rime. The white waves of hot spring steam rise and fall in the wind and crystallize on the trees.

The Jilin Wanda Changbaishan International Ski Resort is extremely family-friendly with great winter activities, children's fun, and festive spirit. 

Besides the exciting skiing activities, the fairytale snow theme parks, the frozen Heavely Lake, the tallest volcanic waterfall, and the relaxing hot springs, you can also try rafting on a hot spring river at the foot of Changbai Mountain when the air temperature is -30°C (-22°F). Be the coolest one in your WeChat Moments! 

Contact us if you are planning a trip to Mt. Changbaishan. It is around 30 minutes by free shuttle bus ride from Changbaishan Airport or 7 hours by car from Harbin. 

Recommended Tour: 7-Day Harbin, China Snow Town, and Changbai Mountain Tour

3. Beijing - Great Wall, Skiing, Hot Springs...

The Great Wall of China covered in snow

Lakes, canals, and fountains are frequently frozen solid. Ice skating is very popular at the lakes in Beijing's parks. There are even bicycles designed to be ridden on the ice.

The nearby sections of the Great Wall remain open to visitors during the wintertime. You can enjoy climbing the Great Wall and viewing the winter landscape in peace without the crowds. (Read more on How to Visit the Great Wall of China)

There are various cultural activities held in the temples and parks of Beijing during the Chinese New Year holiday usually from late January to early February. This is the best time of the year to experience Chinese culture.

From Beijing, you can go to Zhangjiakou with 3 hours' drive to experience skiing in one of the 2022 Winter Olympics competition clusters. Read more on 6-Day Beijing Winter Tour with Skiing in a 2022 Winter Olympics Venue. 

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Amazing 2 day trip to Beijing Our guide Lily and driver Leo were amazing and super conscious that we were traveling with a toddler. Lily was knowledgeable about all of our stops and was very conscious of our time. She even took special time to relate and connect with our daughter which made the trip even more enjoyable for all of us. more Jan 2023, Jessica T

Amazing 2 day trip to Beijing Maggie was so helpful in making sure we logistically could see what we wanted to see in a short time. We only had 2 days. Maggie also took into consideration that we were two adults and a 2.5 year old, the cable cars to the wall was the perfect suggestion. more Jan 2023, Jessica T

Mutianyu Great Wall of China We booked a Chinahighlights guide who drove us from our hotel door in Beijing to the Great Wall of China. The guide explained everything very well in perfect English.The guide then took us to lunch at a spectacular restaurant where we tried the most varied typical dishes of Beijing.Thanks for everything Yuan Yuan and Chinahighlights!! more Jan 2023, Artur Benitez

Great Wall, Great Beijing, Great experience As a foreigner that doesn’t speak Chinese, our guide Christina was immensely helpful. She knew a lot of history about Beijing, and was very flexible with our wishes/schedule. In general, China Highlights is very flexible with the custom tours. The tours allow you a lot flexibility, this is very important to actually enjoy the tours. The restaurants recommended by our guide Christina were also very good, where we tried Peking duck, a traditional dish of Beijing. more Jan 2023, Francesco Ciappina

Customized 7-day Trip to Beijing The tour guide, Jenny, was friendly and helpful. She and my 3-year old daughter made an instant connection. I don't know how I would have managed my daughter on my own without Jenny's help. She picked her up and carried her part of the way on our tours and when she wouldn't allow anyone else to hold her hand, Jenny was happy to keep her safe as we climbed the Great Wall. I had a great time. I'd use China Highlights again next time. Definitely recommend them for efficiency and peace of mind. more Jan 2023, Shaneka

Customized 7-day Trip to Beijing Maggie was patient with me the whole time. She sent new itineraries every time I changed my mind about what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. It was great that the tours were flexible so that I could create a trip to suit my taste and budget. I found out during this trip that I was a very picky person with a special taste for luxury and high expectations generally ????. Because of that, I got a chance to see how professional and dependable my agent was as she helped me smooth out any problems I encountered along the way. The highlights for me were when I complained about my room and she immediately called the hotel to change it, and when I changed my return flight details at the last minute and she quickly made new arrangements for me to be picked up on the new date. more Jan 2023, Shaneka

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Great Experience with China Highlights Firstly, the company responded very quickly to my email, which I sent through their website. After that, I went back and forth with the agent, Ms Carol, quite a few times before we settled on an itinerary which maximized time and scenic touring, without breaking my pocket. more Jan 2023, Crystal

4. Northern Xinjiang — Boundless Snowscapes, Primal Natural Ecology

Fairytale World - Kanas

Glittering rime hanging on the groves of birch trees, snow-covered glacial lakes, endless snowy vistas, and cabins deep in the snowy forests — that is winter in northern Xinjiang.

• Travel to Kanas to see a pure white world. Villages are scattered in the boundless snowscapes, the morning mist rises from the streams…
• Walk into a fairytale scene in Hemu Village, where grey birch forests are set against the silvery snow-capped mountains, and the cabins are scattered about glowing with a warm orange light.
• Lying on China’s border with Kazakhstan, Baihaba Village holds primal natural ecology and ancient traditional culture. Snow adds to the mystery of the peaceful village.

Contact us to create a wonderful winter escape. 

5. Yunnan - Clear Skies, Diverse Landscapes, Minority Culture...

Visit Yunnan in Winter

With its diverse minority culture, awesome natural scenery, and pleasant weather, Yunnan is without doubt one of the most tempting travel destinations in winter in China. The average daytime temperature is around 25℃ and there is little rain.

If you're looking for a sweet escape from the hectic city life in this coming Christmas holiday, Yunnan is definitely a smart choice, especially if you're a family group with little kids. Be spoiled with sunshine.

Popular winter destinations in Yunnan include Dali, Lijiang, Xishuangbanna, and Tengchong.

Recommended Tours:

• 6-Day Xishuangbanna and Pu'er Tour
• 7-Day Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang Winter Tour
• 8-Day Yunnan Tour of the Nu River and Tengchong

6. Sanya - Sunshine, Beaches, and Ocean Fun

Have fun in Sanya with your family

If you want a trip away from the cold in China's winter, Sanya is ideal. It's the warmest place in China in winter. The temperature remains the same between December and February, and it swings from 22 °C (71.6 °F) to 28 °C (82.4 °F).

Reward yourself with a relaxing vacation: the long coastline, glorious sunshine, romantic islands, and golden shores. Some even say that Sanya's beautiful beaches make it the "Hawaii of China".

• You can have fun in the sea and on the beaches.
• Try some exciting watersports, like banana boating, water scootering, surfing, and sailing.
• Fly over the forest by zipline and discover a tropical forest.
• Shop for duty-free commodities.

Recommended Tours

• 6-Day Sanya and Wanning Tour
• 5-Day Sanya Tour with the Best Beach

7. Inner Mongolia — Snow Paradise, Nomad Culture

Feed the Reindeer and Experience Nomadic Life in Inner Mongolia

With transport becoming more convenient, Inner Mongolia has become another popular winter destination, known for its boundless ice and snow scenery and primitive nomadic culture.

• Drive/walk through vast snowscapes, go skiing in the traditional way, and try ice fishing in a snowy paradise.
• Visit the last reindeer herder’s tribe in China and get close to reindeers like Santa’s.
• Visit the remaining six families in China’s coldest village, feel their enthusiasm for their harsh lives, and find out how they fight against the extreme coldness.
• Sleep on a traditional heated brick bed and work with local people to experience authentic Mongolian daily life.

You can take flight to Hulunbuir Dongshan International Airport (HLD). From Shanghai, the flight takes about 5½ hours with one stopover in between. From Beijing, there are direct flights available, which take about 2½ hours. Book your Christmas trip now (in October) to enjoy a great flight deal (CNY1500-2000 for round trip from Shanghai or CNY1000-1500 for round trip from Beijing).

6–12 days are enough to enjoy the main highlights. Contact us for a unique Inner Mongolia snow feast, custom-designed for you.

6-Day Hulunbuir Winter Tour with Reindeer Experience

Dance with Santa's Reindeers view more

8. Tibet - Sunshine, Potala Palace, Plateau Scenery....

Visit Lhasa in Winter

Don't be surprised if I say that Tibet is also a good choice for a comparatively warm holiday. Tibet's winter (November to February) does not feel cold in the daytime! Especially in Lhasa (the 'sunlight city'), although the average daily high temperature is around 5°C (41°F), it is usually sunny, dry, and comfortable outside during the day.

Winter is Tibetan people's leisure time when local people make a pilgrimage trip to Lhasa from their various Tibet regions. Walk on Barkhor Street, and you will find devout Tibetans prostrating themselves on the ground after every few steps in worship. 

Traveling to Tibet in winter is a great money-saver, as hotel and flight/train ticket prices will be at their most reasonable. 

Read more on 5-Day Tibet Winter Tour

How is the Weather in Winter in China?

China is a vast country, and the weather in winter varies greatly from north to south, east to west. If you like it drier and not hot, winter might be preferable for you, as it is the driest time of the year all over China, particularly in the north, where a few snow flurries is all you’ll get.

Below we summarize China's winter weather by region.

Northeast and Southwest China: Harbin, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang...

Make water fireworks in Inner Mongolia - see hot water crystalize in mid-air

Winters in northeastern and southwest China are long, frozen, and snowy. The province of Heilongjiang borders Russia and its capital, Harbin, is called 'Ice City'. January temperatures average -12°C (10°F) during the day, and plummet at night.

Recommended tour:

• 7-Day Harbin, Yabuli, China Snow Town, and Jilin Tour — Charming Northeast China
• 6-Day Hulunbuir Winter Tour with Reindeer Experience — Dance with Santa's Reindeers

North China: Beijing, Xi'an, Pingyao...

Forbidden City in Beijing in snow

The capital Beijing typifies northern China winter weather (including e.g. Xi'an). Beijing experiences very cold, but usually dry, long winters. Winter begins in early November and extends into March. Average temperatures are below freezing, but frequent sunny days are perfect for sightseeing.

Recommended tour: 6-Day Beijing Winter Tour with Skiing in a 2022 Olympic Winter Games Venue

Central China: Shanghai, Huangshan, Chengdu...

Giant Pandas in the snow

The cities in central China experience milder weather than Beijing. The winter season is from December to February. Winters are moist, but there is little snow and days are overcast.

Temperatures usually stay above freezing, but will feel colder due to humidity. This is typical of central/southern China winter weather.

You can enjoy popular southern attractions in the wintertime, as long as you pack plenty of warm clothing.

Recommended tour: 5-Day Chengdu and Bipenggou Tour: Pandas & Skiing!

South China and Southeast Coast: Yunnan, Sanya, Hong Kong, Guangzhou...

Dali in Yunnan province has very comfortable winter weather.

China’s far south and southeast coast fall within the tropics and these places don’t really experience a winter. "Winter" temperatures are quite mild, even warm. (Guilin and Guizhou are exceptions, the temperature of which is similar like that in Shanghai, cold and humid.)

In fact going in the “winter” would be better time to visit these places for you if you don’t relish enduring the sweltering summer heat.

Visit Xishuangbanna for minorities and rain forest, Sanya and Haikou for tropical island scenery and beaches, and the thriving Pearl River cities of Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou.

Recommended Tours:

• 5-Day Sanya Tour with the Best Beach — a Feast of Sea, Shore, and Sun
• 6-Day Xishuangbanna and Pu'er Tour — Escape to the Rainforest
• 7-Day Kunming, Dali and Lijiang Winter Tour — A Warm Winter Trip in Yunnan

How to Pack for China Winter Travel

You're suggested to check the weather and packing tips for each of your China destinations before you depart. Generally speaking, for the north, such as Beijing, heavy overcoats etc. are needed; but for the southeast coast, like Guangzhou, a light coat is enough. See our China Weather pages.

Our Most Popular China Winter Tours

Our most recommended customizable ice and snow tours:

• 7-Day Harbin, Yabuli, China Snow Town, and Jilin Tour — Charming Northeast China
• 7-Day Harbin, China Snow Town, and Changbai Mountain Tour — Fascinating Changbai Mountain
• 6-Day Beijing Winter Tour — Skiing in a 2022 Olympic Winter Games Venue
• 5-Day Chengdu and Hailuogou Tour — a Song of Ice and Fire

Our top recommended customizable warm winter tours:

• 5-Day Sanya Tour with the Best Beach — a Feast of Sea, Shore, and Sun
• 6-Day Xishuangbanna and Pu'er Tour — Escape to the Rainforest
• 7-Day Kunming, Dali and Lijiang Winter Tour — A Warm Winter Trip in Yunnan
• 8-Day Yunnan Tour of the Nu River and Tengchong — Discover Northwest Yunnan

See more China Winter Holiday Tours or contact us if you have any questions or requirements to design a tour.