The Best Winter Activities in China

I often get asked when is the best time to travel in China.

Now, that really depends on what you are looking for out of your trip to China, but if you like cold places, then maybe you should consider it as your next winter destination.

Northern China gets very cold in Winter so you can experience a diverse range of activities there. When we lived in Beijing, it was one of my favourite times of the year. Although it was cold, and I’m talking EXTREMELY cold, most days it would be sunny with blue skies. For me, a sunny and cold day is by far the best!

Let me share with you some of the amazing activities you can find in China in winter.

Ice and Snow Festivals

I’m sure you have seen viral pictures of this massive festival where a whole town gets made out of ice. There are huge ice sculptures, snow art and illuminations, well, that is Harbin.

The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival is the most famous in China, and usually runs from late Dec (officially Jan) until the end of Feb – Check the opening dates so you won’t be disappointed.

Tips:

Dress appropriately as it gets very cold, as low as -20C.

Be prepared it gets very busy so book accommodation and travel in advance.

Don’t go over the Spring Festival.

Harbin isn’t the only place you will find an ice and snow festival in fact you can find similar things in many northern cities in China, this is just the biggest and most famous. We went to one at Longqing Gorge near Beijing, it was small in comparison but a really fun day trip from the city and a lot cheaper for us than travelling all the way to Harbin.

Skiing and snowboarding

In recent years (since China held the Winter Olympics), there has been a rise in Winter sports. The infrastructure has improved, and more people are hitting the slopes for some winter fun. You can find many resorts near Beijing if you don’t want to go too far or just want a day trip from the capital. Zhangjiakou is a popular location, and now that there is a high-speed train directly to it, you can get there very easily. In this area, it is incredibly cold, but unfortunately, the snow is mostly made with snow canons and isn’t real.

If you head to some more northern provinces then you will find some bigger resorts with real snow like Yabuli in Heilongjiang and Changbai Mountain in Jilin. You can always head West to Xiling Snow Mountain in Chengdu if you want to see what skiing in Sichuan is like.

Tips:

Don’t worry if you don’t have any gear you can rent it (including an outfit) from many places in the ski areas. China is quite accessible even for beginners with not much gear or experience.

Avoid the Spring Festival.

Snow-covered tourist sites

I can’t control the weather, so I don’t know if it will actually snow on your trip, but can you imagine how beautiful it would be to see some of the most famous locations in China covered in snow?

If you are a snow searcher, you can head to these places when it snows:

The Great Wall – Beijing

The Forbidden City - Beijing

Zhangjiajie Forest Park- Hunan

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) - Anhui

Jiuzhaigou Valley - Sichuan

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – Yunnan

Tips:

Dress appropriately, and make sure you have shoes with good grip, thermals, hand warmers etc

Bring a camera with plenty of batteries as they don’t last as long in the cold.

Christmas and winter markets

In December, you will experience a flurry of winter markets that pop up, especially in Beijing and Shanghai. From pop-up day markets to get some gifts to full-on German markets that last a few weeks. These aren’t traditionally Chinese but offer a Chinese and expat fusion of things. It is a fun thing to do to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Temple Fairs

Normally, I would avoid travelling to China around the Spring Festival, but if you end up being there whilst it is this time of year, then you should head to a Temple Fair. This is a celebration of Chinese traditions and culture. There are religious ceremonies, entertainment like folk games and performances, as well as local handicrafts and treats.

Tips:

The temple fairs and other tourist sites will be extremely busy over the Spring Festival.

You might need to get a ticket in advance for the temple so be prepared.

Ice swimming

Are you brave (or mad enough) to take a dip in a frozen lake? Then China is the place for you!

Along the banks of Houhai Lake in Beijing, you will see a group of locals who regularly participate in this extreme activity and believe it promotes health and resilience. It is also popular in the Songhua River in Harbin. If you don’t fancy joining them, then watching is still an unforgettable experience.

Tips:

If you are going to give it a try then make sure you have lots of warm things to get dressed into after. If you aren’t used to cold dipping then it could be dangerous so be careful.

 Ice Skating or biking

Wherever there is a frozen lake in China you will find people skating or ice biking/sledging on it. The most famous in Beijing is on Shichahai Lake. The area offers various ice activities, including skating, sledging, and even ice bumper cars, all set against the backdrop of historical hutongs and traditional architecture. Other areas you will find this in Beijing is at the Olympic stadium, Summer Palace and also along the river at Liangmaqiao, although the latter is more informal.

Tips:

Dress in appropriate clothing to keep warm and do the activity.

Hot springs

One of the best ways to warm up after a day of sightseeing in the cold is to go to a hot spring or spa. There are many places you can go to. Some are outside of the cities, and you can enjoy the winter landscape. If you opt for a spa, they are usually open 24hrs so you can go and relax any time you want.

Winter Food

The winter season brings a variety of warm and comforting foods that sometimes are only available at this time of year.

Hotpot

Whilst hotpot is popular all year round it is especially eaten in the winter to warm you up. Beijing has its own version which is eaten with mutton. Mutton is very popular in winter.

Jiaozi (dumplings)

Jiaozi are super popular in winter and are an important part of any Chinese New Year celebration.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

You will see people in the streets with big drums roasting sweet potatoes. You won’t find this all year, you know it is winter when the sweet potatoes are being sold in the streets.

Roast Chestnuts

You will smell these in the air in wintertime. If you see a long line for something it is usually people queuing up for roast chestnuts.

Tanghulu (sugar-coated Hawthorn skewers)

You will find carts lining the streets with various skewers. You can find many different fruits which have been candied in a hardened sugar syrup but the hawthorn berries are the best (in my opinion) as they are quite tart tasting which is a contrast to the sweet crunchy exterior.

Noodles

Any noodles that have a warming broth are particularly popular in Winter. I would go for a steamy bowl of Lanzhou Lamian to warm me up.

Winter in China isn’t for everyone you need to be able to brave the cold as it really does get cold, but if you are prepared, then this is a great time of year to go. If you get to China and find out it is too much for you, then head south. The south of China will be milder and won’t get the extreme temperatures of the north.

Check out this post to see the top winter destinations you should visit in China.

If you need help planning your trip then get in touch I can help you.