The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and in the northern areas of China, winter has already hit in (almost) full force. Each year, during the months of December to February, the Middle Kingdom is in a state of limbo as family members in faraway cities return home to visit relatives, students spend the holidays with their families, and employees take much-needed breaks from work.
Where will you spend your holidays in China? From winter wonderlands to tropical paradises, China has a holiday destination for everyone. Here are two vacation suggestions for both the wintry- and tropically-inclined:
Enjoy the cold? Spend time in Harbin at the Ice Festival, a sub-zero spectacular. Harbin in Heilongjiang province, known by many as the home of the ‘clearest Chinese accent,’ is a frigid, but incredible, destination during the winter months. Children and adults alike can delight in the many frozen attractions, which range from rainbow castles and snowy animal sculptures to brightly-hued bridges and icicle-adorned bushes — all created with ice, of course. Make sure to bring your long underwear and down jackets, or you may find yourself more consumed with frostbite than with your beautiful, sculpted surroundings.
Want to escape to warmer weather? Try Sanya, the ‘Chinese Hawaii.’ Many Chinese native to Sanya, in Hainan province, will ask visitors to confirm that Sanya is indeed identical to Hawaii in terms of temperate climate, beaches and mountainous areas. This is not quite accurate, but it is certainly an excellent substitute for those who wish to get warm while remaining on the mainland. Inexpensive hostels, delicious local and foreign cuisine, and a beachside attitude make Sanya a great place for a fun, laidback vacation. Don’t expect much cultural exploration, but there is plenty of hiking, biking, and swimming to be done.
If you are unsure of what you’re looking for, want more suggestions, or have any other additional questions, tweet us at @WildChina, or send us an email at info@wildchina.com.
The WildChina Twitter Live Q+A question series is a collection of five questions either posed or inspired by WildChina’s Twitter Live Q+A session on Wednesday, November 11. If you have questions about China Travel, follow @WildChina on Twitter and tweet us your query. We are always happy to help!
This question was inspired by a series of posts by @wildpixels, @yunnangirl, and @JiaLiming regarding travel plans in China during the winter months.
What is the schedule for the Harbin winter festival in 2010? Is there an official time or schedule of events?
Hi Jason, thanks for your inquiry!
The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival begins on January 5 and continues for about a month. However, there are a variety of related activities at Sun Island Park, Zhaolin Park, and venues in Harbin city proper starting in mid-December. You may find a full schedule of events here: http://bit.ly/2DT6EE
It is open from 9 am to 10 pm daily, and daily admission for adults is 150 RMB. There are separate entrance fees for Sun Island Park and Zhaolin Park; admission is 30 RMB per adult.
Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Thanks for the helpful information. I plan to be in China during that time… just need to make plans.