Winter travel in China

xiao_liang
August 15, 2011, 09:27 PM posted in General Discussion

Hello all!

 

Sorry I've been a bit absent recently. Life has been a bit hectic. But I'm still studying and I need your help again!

Looks like we'll be heading back to China in January for Chinese New Year. We'll be visiting my partner's family in 广州 GuangZhou again, but rather than just spend two weeks there, I wondered if anyone had any recommendations for winter travel destinations in China? 

We were going to visit Beijing, but Christine is worried that it'll be too freezing in the North, so are there any other recommendations? Personally I don't mind the cold, but hey :)

 

XL

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bababardwan
August 16, 2011, 12:58 AM

2012
Harbin Ice and Snow Festival officially begins on January 5, 2012.

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xiao_liang

Yea, I did mention Harbin, but she doesn't want to go that far North. As far as I'm concerned, if you're going to get cold, you might as well freeze to death, but she's not convinced ;)

What about Yunan? What's worth visiting?

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darkstar94

Depends what time you go, my friends were lucky enough to beat the cold that my group had run into.

I liked Jilin city, it was a nice quiet city, not as cold as Harbin, has small snow fields, has a nice park with a good view of the city.

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bababardwan

"if you're going to get cold, you might as well freeze to death"

...yeah, I'm with you. That's exactly how I look at it. Harbin ice festival is meant to be amazing. But yeah, no point if she's not into it. Good luck mate :)

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xiao_liang
August 17, 2011, 09:32 PM

Anyone with any other recommendations? Come on folks! I must be super boring now to encourage this kind of lack of response! Hehe! :-p

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cinnamonfern

Hainan? Though in January it will probably be a bit chilly if the weather is like Hong Kong. You won't want to go swimming. :) There is supposedly a really pretty mountain in Hunan too, but I can't remember the name...

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xiao_liang

Is it Mount Hengshan?

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/hunan/hengyang/hengshan.htm

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bodawei
August 18, 2011, 12:44 AM

Hi xiao_liang

Winter can be a bit limiting in China, except Yunnan which is Spring all year round. :) Even in Yunnan some bus routes can be closed because of snow. I went to Tiger Leaping Gorge one Winter - bright blue skies and not too cold during the day, a little chilly at night. Stay put in a farmer's house (a couple of days at least) in the mountains. Spend a couple of days in Dali on the way. That's my recommendation. Allow 9 or 10 days, from and back to Guangzhou, all up.  Good luck! (And send me a message if you have any questions about this part of the country.)

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xiao_liang

I have to be honest, it was you I was thinking of mate! That sounds like a great recommendation. I wonder if I can persuade her majesty :) Thanks!

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dehali
August 18, 2011, 02:25 AM

I spent a Jan/Feb/March in Lhasa once and am glad I didn't let the fear of cold weather keep me away.  With a good, long coat (I bought mine in Chengdu) it can be great.  Days were usually sunny; nights clear and cold.  Fewer laowai and a special holiday time (as it will be everywhere then) for the locals.  Enjoy your trip.

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xiao_liang

I admit I've always wanted to visit Tibet, but isn't it quite difficult for foreigners to get visas to visit without restrictions?

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dehali

No idea what the current situation is, and it also depends on what you mean by "visit without restrictions". In any case, shouldn't be too difficult to get to Lhasa and its environs. But much farther afield probably does require more paperwork (thus higher probability of delays). When I went (2007), we were part of a "tour group", but only on paper. We never knew who else was in this "group"; once we arrived in Lhasa we could go our merry way, independently (again, in Lhasa and surrounding areas).

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rjaks

Those times are long gone. Now it's strict 死了。 They don't like foreigners going around without Han Chinese supervision.

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user31238
August 21, 2011, 09:58 AM

Yunnan is best in winter. Xishaungbanna is tropical. Guilin- Yanshou is not too cold.

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user3764
August 21, 2011, 05:46 PM

Yunnan is a good choise. You can take the afternoon or evening train direct from Guangzhou 24 houer. In second class sleeper it is real nice. a lot of interaction with other passanger nice food in the bistro but a bit dirty at the tables. Stopover is also an idéa to brake the long travel Maoming is close to Hainan, on the way.I traveled to Kumning then bus to Dali 6 hour and then bus to beautiful Lijang. Train is also ok to Lijang opened 2009  We flow back to Shenzhen.

I was in Beijing last january with friends visited the wall -6 c and a strong dry wind from Mongolia. Have never felt so cold in my life "Dry freezed meet" and I am a Swede use to -30 c. Keep yourself in the southern part. The north is great in spring and summer.

Leiferik (Leifo)

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xiao_liang

Great advice, thanks Leifo!

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bababardwan
August 31, 2011, 02:20 PM

xiaoliang,

I'm not sure if there's anything of interest to you in this old group:

http://chinesepod.com/community/groups/view/travel-tips-104