Winter Wonderlands

Winter break is soon upon us, and most people are probably anxious to leave the city. Of course, coming up with plans for the holiday now may be slightly late; however, there are many not-planning-extensive trip possibilities near Guangzhou. Let’s look at some locations.

Hong Kong

In previous years, Hong Kong, the bustling city that is only two hours away by train, would have been an obvious recommendation. But, with the current events happening in Hong Kong… I wouldn’t imagine it to be the most relaxing location.

Guangzhou SUNAC Snow World

There’s a ski resort in Guangzhou? It seems unbelievable to most. But it does exist, and this indoor ski resort is the second largest ski resort in China, with 75,000 square meters of artificial snow and four ski slopes in total. It is located in the Huadu district of Guangzhou, perfect for a day trip full of skiing and snowboarding. And if you want to stay for more than a day, well, lucky for you, the ski resort is located in the Wanda Cultural Tourism City, right next to two 5 star hotels and even a 6 star hotel. In the same area, there is also a water park—although it may not be the most ideal location to go in the winter—as well as a theme park, like the one found in Chimelong.

Harbin

Harbin is known globally for its winter months. The freezing temperatures and the heavy snowfall are perfect for people who enjoy the cold. Of course there is also the ice festival that is renowned world wide – tourists flock to Harbin from all over the world just to see the ice festival. Blocks of ice are sculpted into statues and are lit from the within, creating a land of glittering ice. There are even buildings made out of ice, such as the ice hotel, climbing ice rock, as well as a golf course on ice. The locals of Harbin also have a long tradition of cutting holes into the ice of the river, creating a temporary swimming pool. If you like to get more hands on with the cold, you have the option to swim in the freezing waters of the Songhua River, which is surprisingly a popular activity.

Beijing

Despite the dry and dreary days, Beijing has a lot to offer in terms of winter activities. There are many parks with lakes that freeze over during the winter months, allowing people to ice skate on them. Often times, a small fee will be charged, but skates are provided at most locations. Don’t forget that Beijing is the capital of China, so if ice skating isn’t for you, there are also plenty of other places to visit, such as malls or even going sight seeing.

Although these three places are popular amongst tourists, there are also many other places that are equally fun to visit in the winter. Going to places such as Shanghai, Sanya, Shenzhen, or even staying at home can be a nice way to spend your holiday. Comment down below where you are going to be during this winter break.