Winter travel

China in winter, which cities work and which do not

Q: Which route works best in winter?

The classic 10-day route, Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai, works well with warm clothes. It ends in Shanghai, the mildest of the three.

Q: Is the Li River worth it in winter?

Yes, although from January to March the river is low and the long cruise is swapped for a short stretch between Yangdi and Xingping. In Guilin, January runs from 6 to 12 °C, with quite a few rainy days.

Q: What should I pack?

For Beijing and Xi'an, a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers. For the south, layers and a rain jacket. Layers you can take off inside museums and trains work best.

Visiting China from December to February. Dry cold in Beijing, milder Shanghai and Guilin, snowy Zhangjiajie, cheaper tickets and dates to avoid.

Pros and cons

Winter means fewer people and several cheaper tickets. In return the north is cold, days are short and Chinese New Year fills everything for a few weeks. For a first trip it works well in December and early January, away from that holiday.

The milder cities

January averages, low to high. The south and centre stay above zero, but the cold is damp and some days are grey.

Shanghai. 3 to 9 °C
Guilin and Yangshuo. 6 to 12 °C, with about 14 rainy days
Chengdu. 3 to 10 °C
Chongqing. 6 to 10 °C, grey and foggy

Beijing and Xi'an in the cold

Beijing in January runs from −7 to 3 °C, but it is a dry cold, with very few days of rain or snow. Xi'an runs from −4 to 5 °C. With a good coat both are easy to visit, and the Forbidden City and the Great Wall have far fewer people. On the Wall, wear a hat and gloves.

Zhangjiajie in winter

In January it runs from 3 to 10 °C and it sometimes snows. The snowy pillars are beautiful, but ice can close lifts, cable cars or the glass bridge on some days. Keep a spare day. The park pass costs the same all year, there is no longer a winter discount.

Cheaper tickets

Several sights have low-season prices. These are adult prices, in yuan.

Forbidden City. 40 instead of 60, November to March
Temple of Heaven. 28 instead of 34
Summer Palace. 50 instead of 60
Terracotta Army. 100 instead of 120, December to February
Yuyuan Garden. 30 instead of 40

Harbin and Chinese New Year

If you want snow and ice sculptures, Harbin, in the north-east, has its season from mid-December to late February, at around −20 °C. This guide does not cover it. And watch out for Chinese New Year, on 6 February in 2027. Trains are full in the weeks before, and some restaurants close during the holiday.

The route in this guide

10 daysThe golden triangleThe Terracotta Army between the Great Wall and the BundBeijing · Xi'an · ShanghaiFrom 830 € per person · Comfortable

Frequently asked questions

Which route works best in winter?

The classic 10-day route, Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai, works well with warm clothes. It ends in Shanghai, the mildest of the three.

Is the Li River worth it in winter?

Yes, although from January to March the river is low and the long cruise is swapped for a short stretch between Yangdi and Xingping. In Guilin, January runs from 6 to 12 °C, with quite a few rainy days.

What should I pack?

For Beijing and Xi'an, a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers. For the south, layers and a rain jacket. Layers you can take off inside museums and trains work best.

Is December a good time to go?

Yes, it is one of the best winter months. Beijing runs from −5 to 4 °C and Shanghai from 5 to 11, crowds are small and it is clear of Chinese New Year.

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