Where to sunbathe in winter in China. Holidays in China in winter: where is the best place to go? Ski resort in China
China occupies an area of nine thousand and is located in three climatic zones. This suggests that while the northern part of the country is buried in snow and cold, the southern part is experiencing sultry heat.
In recent years, China's winter season has become increasingly popular. Tourists who have traveled all over Europe, in pursuit of thrills and for a change, go to China and get tremendous pleasure. Most people who have visited the Middle Kingdom recommend visiting China in spring and autumn. Many newcomers may have the question “is there winter in China?” Is it worth traveling to an East Asian state in winter?
We can answer with confidence – it’s worth it! And there are many positive reasons for this:
- the number of tourists is significantly reduced, which will allow you to visit the desired attractions without problems and queues;
- in the period from December to the beginning of spring, prices for entrance tickets to cultural centers and national parks are significantly lower in price;
The only downside is that buses run less frequently, and national parks may open an hour later. But if you plan your trip correctly, then such little things will not bother you or cause trouble. Winter holidays in China will bring you many new emotions and sensations.
Ski resort in China
From December to March, northern China is buried in snow, and thermometers drop below zero. But the temperature has never frightened tourists, but on the contrary, holidays in this country are gaining more and more popularity every year. The reason for this is the special relief, mountain ranges, highlands and flat terrain covered with snow leaves no one indifferent. In the Tibetan part of the country, the height of the mountains can reach 3900 meters. In the Sichuan Mountains, the altitude ranges from 1400 to 3100 meters, which will make it possible to choose an acceptable route for both beginners and professionals.
Every year, highly developed China improves its ski resorts to European standards. One of the most popular resorts in China is Yabuli.
Yabuli is a resort where Chinese winter sports teams train. The lowest temperature that has been reached is -43 degrees. In normal times, the average temperature is -9-11 degrees. The tops of the mountains are covered with 100 centimeters of snow. At this recreation center there are about 11 trails for beginner skiers, 500 meters long, which will provide an opportunity to quickly learn the skill of skiing. There are also trails of medium and high difficulty levels.
The Changbai Shan resort, located at an altitude of 1620-1830 meters far in the mountains, has earned particular popularity among ski athletes. Downhill, freestyle and slalom skiing and much more are provided at this resort. The length of the route reaches 3000 meters with elevation changes of up to 135 meters, which passes through forests and groves.
If skiing is not your thing, then the Nanshan resort has a very developed sport such as snowboarding. The snowboarding area is equipped according to European standards. The trails provided here are extreme, there are low-level and more difficult trails. For the little ones there are opportunities for snowmobiling with instructors.
If you don’t want to travel so far into the mountains in winter, there is the Wanglong resort, which is located 240 kilometers from Beijing. The ski resort here begins as early as September, and it is also the largest point of artificial snow production. There are 13 trails for recreation.
As you can see, there is a lot to see in China in winter and get lasting pleasure from enjoying the beauty and scenery of snow-capped mountains and forests.
Holiday season in winter in China
As you can see, there is winter in China, but for those who like a hot holiday during the cold period, this country also has such an opportunity. Clean beaches, clear seas and a place that has not been affected by industrialization is Hainan Island.
Visiting Chinese cities in winter
Visiting China in winter will give you a great opportunity to attend festivals and discover the country's cultural features without the annoying crowds of tourists.
In the northeast of the country stands the beautiful city of Harbin, which attracts visitors during the cold season with a festival of ice sculptures and lanterns.
The Great Wall of China looks especially magical at this time. Tourists from Beijing are taken to this wonder of the world on a one-day excursion. The cost of the excursion is about $50 including lunch. Guests of the country have the opportunity to visit the caves of the city of Luoyang, examine more than thousands of sculptures, and get acquainted with Buddhist culture; a day is allocated for this.
China is a huge country that offers great opportunities for a wide variety of recreation. Here you can sunbathe, swim, participate in water activities, engage in active recreation, go on excursions to cultural and historical attractions, and make profitable purchases.
Of course, over such a large area the climate cannot be the same, so the tourist season begins at different times in different resorts.
Speaking to the country as a whole, there is a widespread opinion that the best place to go is spring and autumn. in winter prices for holidays in China are the lowest (they fall two to three times), at this time you can get acquainted with the amazing culture of this Asian country, as well as get an excellent opportunity for shopping. In summer China has quite high humidity and typhoons are possible in many regions.
The entire territory of China should be divided into three parts according to climatic conditions: northern, central and southern China. Let's look at each zone separately.
North of China
In the north of the country, as well as in its western part, it dominates temperate continental climate which is characterized by hot summers and cold winters. The coast receives a large amount of precipitation in summer, which is associated with the prevailing monsoons. In other areas, summers are hot and dry. The average temperature in northern China: in winter about –7°C (reaches –20°C), in summer about +27°C (reaches +35°C).
This area is perfect for ecological tourism, since the northern territories have excellent landscapes, clean lakes, mountain rivers, unique flora and fauna. In the northwestern zone you can also study ancient monuments (for example, in Heilongjiang Province).
This part of China has the best ski resorts countries. You can relax in the Beijing area and perfectly combine active and sightseeing holidays. Ski season lasts from November to March. The most popular resorts are Yabuli and Nanshan Ski Village. It is worth saying that in the southwest of the country, on the border with Nepal, there is Everest and the highest peak in the world - Chomolungma.
The most attractions are in Beijing and Harbin.
Central China
The central regions of the country are located in the zone subtropical climate, which is characterized by warm summers and fairly comfortable winters. The main feature of this climate zone is high humidity. You can come to this part of the country all year round to study ecotourism And active recreation. There are also resorts offering wellness treatments.
Not the best time to travel to central China – rain season which lasts from April to September. From July to September it often happens here typhoons, but the weather is quite hot, on average, the air warms up to +27°C. The optimal time to travel to the resorts of this area is October when the weather is dry and warm enough. One of the most interesting cities in the central part is Shanghai.
South China
Southern China is the most popular part of the country, because it has the most favorable climate - tropical monsoon– and excellent opportunities for a beach holiday. This region includes not only the mainland of the country, but also the islands of Hong Kong and Hainan Island.
On the island Hainan swimming season continues throughout the year, the water temperature almost never drops below +25°C. It is worth noting that in winter this place may not be very pleasant for those who like to spend whole days on the shore.
In summer It is better not to go to Hainan due to frequent typhoons. Thus, the best time to visit the island is autumn and spring when the optimum temperature is established and moderate rainfall occurs. At the same time, a beach holiday can be perfectly combined with an excursion.
One of the most popular tourist regions in southern China is Hong Kong. The best season to travel to this area is from October to December. During these months it is warm and dry, the water temperature does not drop below +21°C. Can you come to Hong Kong? in March and April– the air and water warm up sufficiently, but the humidity is slightly higher than in the autumn months.
In this material we will tell you how to organize an independent trip to the Middle Kingdom so that it is inexpensive.
China is a magical country, beckoning with its ancient culture and rich history dating back more than 5 thousand years. These are colorful places and works of art, magnificent monuments and majestic temples...
If you're planning a solo holiday to China in 2016, you'll want to visit some of the main sites of power, including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, as well as the Terracotta Army, the Chengdu Nature Reserve with its giant pandas, and the Guilin region with its tranquil landscapes.
An independent trip to China is not a two-week tour to Egypt, so be prepared for various surprises and the specifics of Asia. It is best to explore China sequentially, starting, for example, with cosmopolitan Hong Kong and the local Las Vegas of Macau, and then visiting the Philippine Islands, Guangzhou and Hainan. And only when the most tourist places in the country have been completely developed, feel free to go to China on your own.
Remember that most Chinese do not speak English, except for education workers and students, so be prepared for the worst - you may have to use sign language.
And finally, the food here is quite specific, so if you are not a fan of spicy cuisine, you will have a hard time in China. In addition, the menu of a typical cafe may not have an English version of the names of the dishes, and then you will have to order at random based on the picture or by pointing to your neighbor’s plate.
Another characteristic point is the country’s public transport. In China people smoke almost everywhere, including buses and trains. They don’t smoke except on airplanes, so if you are not a heavy smoker, choose air travel. But in general, transport here is well developed, and you can get to the desired place both by rail and by highway in a rented car or taxi.
Travel plan
The price of a tour to China at agencies will be higher than the cost of an independent trip to China. So, if you want to save money, it’s better to be patient and develop a clear plan for your trip to the Middle Kingdom:
- Determine exact travel dates
- Approximately calculate your travel budget
- Decide on a destination
- Book a hotel or house
- Buy plane tickets to China
- Prepare the necessary documents (visa and insurance)
- Pack your suitcase and hit the road.
Flights
Before you travel to China on your own, you need to buy a plane ticket. You can fly to China directly with Aeroflot or Air China, or you can get there with transfers on Emirates, Air Astana and other airlines.
Aeroflot has regular flights from Moscow to Beijing and Shanghai. The flight duration is from 8 to 10 hours. China Eastern airlines also fly to Shanghai, and you can fly to the capital of China on regular flights of Hainan Airlines, Air China, Transaero and S7.
It is convenient to fly to Hong Kong from Moscow and St. Petersburg non-stop with the same Aeroflot, Transaero and Cathay Pacific or with Qatar Airlines and Emirates with one transfer. You can buy tickets (roundtrip) from 20,000 rubles. By the way, Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport, which is located on an artificial island, is considered one of the most comfortable air hubs in the world. You can travel from one terminal to another in a few minutes by Aeroexpress.
In addition to Chek Lap Kok, there are 5 dozen airports in China, so your choice will depend on which city you want to see first. The most convenient way would be to arrive in Hong Kong and then continue your independent journey towards Chengdu or Hainan. Or you can fly to Shanghai, and from there go to Guilin, Hangzhou and Longzi.
The most convenient way to book cheap air tickets to China is the portal. To search for an advantageous offer, enter the codes of the departure and arrival airports in the query line, select your travel dates, click on “search” and wait for the result. In a couple of seconds, you will see all available flights to China on the days you specified, which can be distributed by the number of transfers, ticket prices and other criteria.
If you know English, be sure to activate the search function for “English-speaking agencies” in the settings so that the system returns more results. If you wish, you can save the request data and subscribe to constant price updates from aviasales for the destination you need.
Calendar of low prices for air tickets
China in winter. Which cities and resorts in China are preferable for traveling in winter.
Pros and cons of traveling in winter.
Pros of winter holidays in China. Why is it worth going to China in winter?
FEW TOURISTS, accordingly, there will be no crowds of tourists at excursion sites. In winter, the low season begins on the Chinese mainland.
BEAUTIFUL, UNUSUAL PHOTOS. Take the opportunity to take the most beautiful winter photos.
Imagine: the royal castle of Gugun under a soft edge of snow, your lonely footprints in the snow on the highest part of the Chinese Wall...
Note: the exception is the week-long period during the Chinese New Year celebration, when the Chinese organize mass celebrations.
In the photo: The Great Wall of China in winter
Disadvantages of winter holidays in China. What you should pay attention to.
WEATHER. When visiting the northern cities of China, be prepared for frosts, which, as in Russia, are strongest in January - February. It is worth noting that the territory of China is quite extensive, and therefore temperature fluctuations from north to south are large.
Coldest weather in the northern cities of Harbin (-23) and Wudalianchi (-24).
Warmest weather in Sanya on Hainan Island - daytime air temperature on average +23/+24, at night +14/+18, water temperature +23/+25
Since in the most popular excursion tour programs Beijing is the northernmost point of the route, when choosing clothes you should be guided by it.
For comparison, the average temperature in Beijing in January it is +2 during the day, at night - 9, in February it is already a little warmer during the day +4, at night -7.
In January and February, snow falls in Beijing, sometimes it can snow and rain, and strong winds occasionally blow, especially in open areas.
IN southern mainland China the weather is warmer, for example in Hong Kong in January the temperature is +18 during the day, +14 at night.
November has already arrived, which means that winter is getting closer every day. For some, this time of year is another reason to go to warm Hainan, but for others, winter is a great time to explore China and discover it in new colors. Especially for such people, the authors of The World of Chinese blog have chosen the six best places for winter travel in China.
1. Beijing
While some travelers may be put off by Beijing's smog, the winter view of the Forbidden City or the Temple of Heaven covered in snow is a truly mesmerizing sight. The Great Wall also looks more interesting than usual in a winter landscape.
Forbidden City. Photo: Flickr
2. Harbin
Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. Photo: Associated Press
Harbin is one of the most “winter” cities in China. But don’t be afraid of frosts, which here can reach 30 degrees below zero. The city is interesting for its winter illumination and unique Russian influence. The world-famous Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is a must-see here.
3. Jilin Province
Frost-covered Jilin trees are considered one of China's natural wonders. In Jilin, you should definitely visit the Changbai Mountains, whose name means “high white mountains.” Today, some of the best ski resorts in China are located here. This region is also known for its hot springs.
4. Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan Province
The unique Jiuzhaigou Nature Park turns into a real fairy tale in winter. The park area is also home to nine traditional Tibetan villages. Thanks to the perfect combination of natural and cultural attractions, Jiuzhaigou is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
5. Emeishan, Sichuan Province
Emeishan is one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhists. In winter, this place becomes even more unusual and interesting. Emeishan is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition, not far from here is the Big Buddha of Leshan - a statue that for centuries remained the tallest in the world.
6. Beiji Village, Mohe County, Heilongjiang Province
Beiji is rightfully considered a Chinese “Arctic” village - it is the northernmost point of China; in winter the temperature here can stay below 35 degrees Celsius for a long time. The winter landscapes of Beiji leave no one indifferent. The village, as if straight out of a fairy tale, is located on the banks of the Amur and is surrounded by picturesque forests.
Prepared by Maxim Garbart