Coming in from the Cold: Dealing with Winter in China

Coming in from the Cold: Dealing with Winter in China
Dec 20, 2014 By Trey Archer , eChinacities.com

There’s something about China’s winter that makes it a lot more miserable than other countries’. If you’re in places like Shanghai, Chengdu or Chongqing, the humidity chills your bones to the core. Along the northern border from Xinjiang to Inner Mongolia and Dongbei, the sheer drop in temperature to -30 °C and daily blizzards can be catastrophic. In other places like Xi’an, Beijing and Lanzhou, the dense cloud of winter pollution turns every breath into an asthmatic wheeze. But fear not my dear reader, this winter season we present you a few alternatives for escaping the cold, or beating it at its own game, so that you can begin dealing with winter in China.

China in winter, Great Wall in winter
Source: inyucho

Hot enough for ya?

My personal favorite when dealing with China’s horrendous winter is to avoid it and forget that it even exists. Call it fate (or just plain luck) but Christmas holidays and Chinese New Year fall right in the dead of winter, giving us expats the chance for much needed vacation time. For domestic travel hit up Kunming in Yunnan Province. Kunming is famed as the “Land of Eternal Spring” since its December to February average low is 19 °C, and it’s a great place to scope out some of the region’s fascinating ethnic minorities. To really heat things up head to Sanya in Hainan. The island, more commonly known as the “Hawaii of China,” is renowned for its pristine beaches, fun in the sun and partying till dawn with year-round hot weather.

For something more exotic, think outside the box, or at least the country’s borders. Again, as luck would have it, Asia’s monsoon climate creates some bizarre weather patterns for the continent. So while hell is freezing over in China, Southeast Asian countries (like Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia) and South Asian destinations (like India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka) are blazing and in full swing in the peak of their tourist seasons. You can find anything in these regions from Full Moon Parties to lost Hindu temples, so whatever your preference is, you can enjoy it in shorts and sandals.

Unfortunately, most of us can’t travel to one of these cool places every weekend, meaning we’re still going to have to suck it up and shiver the majority of the winter. However, for a mini escape to really get the blood bubbling, sit down for a hot pot feast. Certainly, hovering over a table of boiling hot broth, chowing down on a glutinous feast of spice infused meats and drinking a few shots of bajiu with several friends is the equivalent to consuming antifreeze (not literally, unless the baijiu is fake…). Keep in mind that there are two main basic types of hot pot found in the China: the Sichuan/Chongqing style is a lot spicier, and the Beijing/Mongolian variety, served in a bronze chimney-like pot, is heartier.

A whole lot cooler!

They say the best way to conquer a fear is to face it, so why not do the same when dealing with winter in China? Instead of leaving on a jet plane to somewhere tropical, head to some of the many winter activities in China. In Heilongjiang, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in February is an incredible event where fairy-tale like palaces, sculptures, slides and games are constructed inside an entire city made of ice; it truly is a once in a lifetime experience. Two other good options are Emei Shan in Sichuan, and Huangshan in Anhui. The duo are two of China’s most famous and sacred mountains, and the most pleasant to visit in the winter for their extraordinary snow covered peaks and blissful winter-wonderland scenery.

Don’t forget there are in fact fun activities to do in the winter as well. In Beijing, the locals like to flock to Houhai Lake, strap on their skates and shred up the ice. If you haven’t mastered figure skating, consider a nature walk at a local park, or visit a famous monument near you since many tourist attraction offer big discounts during the low season. If the aforementioned is too innocent for you, join the polar bear club. Using the nation’s capital as an example again, some of the crazier (borderline insane?) Beijingers head to Houhai in the dead of winter, knock a hole in the ice, them jump in half-naked. Apparently, according to the die-hards, ice-dipping is good for your health and an extraordinarily exhilarating experience (though I think I’ll pass).

And last but not least, how could I end this article without mentioning skiing and snowboarding? China, believe it or not, has some worthwhile ski resorts that are easily reached and won’t break the bank. According to ChinaHighlights.com, the top 5 best ski resorts of the country are Alshan, Inner Mongolia; Yabuli, Heilongjia; Huaibei, Beijing; Nanshan, Beijing; and Xiling, Sichuan. Even if you don’t like skiing or snowboarding, you can still travel with your friends to these resorts and take full advantage of their outdoor hot tub, go sledding or just hang out at some of the bars and restaurants that will be lively during the winter. 

Conclusion

My Russian friends always tell me that winter doesn’t exist if you have a thick jacket. Well, I couldn’t disagree more! If you’re someone like me who never grew up in the cold and aren’t used to it, then dealing with winter in China is hard and painful most of the time. However, after a few years of whining and complaining about how cold I am and running up my heating bill to astronomical digits, I’m finally starting to appreciate the fun winter activities that one can only do in the cold. That being said, I still jump at the opportunity to escape to somewhere warm for my Spring Festival break. If any of you out there have some other good winter ideas or any travel destinations not mentioned, let all of us know in the comment section to help make these next few months go by as quickly as possible.

Warning:The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.

Keywords: winter in China; China’s winter; escaping winter; winter activities in China Dealing with winter in China

13 Comments

All comments are subject to moderation by eChinacities.com staff. Because we wish to encourage healthy and productive dialogue we ask that all comments remain polite, free of profanity or name calling, and relevant to the original post and subsequent discussion. Comments will not be deleted because of the viewpoints they express, only if the mode of expression itself is inappropriate.

Guest2503130

Any ideas when Mr Xi will deem it necessary to grace China's middle provinces (Jiangsu, Hubei, etc.) with central heating?

Feb 06, 2015 16:35 Report Abuse

fransil

I actually hate winter unlike Summer. Winter comes with less pleasure and fun. You are always fully covered. The temperature in my country is Summer throughout the year.And it always feels cool. The Story behind Winter is not that pleasant. Can't wait for Summer this year.

Jan 08, 2015 12:42 Report Abuse

crabbybohs870

Tell me I'm too late to get a train ticket to some of these warmer places you mentioned...

Dec 24, 2014 00:31 Report Abuse

fernandojr100

I used to live near Shanghai and now I live way up north in Shenyang. What I've learned during these years is that you should never underestimate winter in China, a feather-filled coat and shoes with real sheep hair inside will come a long way to help you feel at ease during such harsh winter. So go out there and make sure to get the real deal because polyester just won't do. Also thick wool gloves and wool scarfs (or rabbit hair scarfs for girls) will help a lot during your walks outside.

Dec 22, 2014 21:51 Report Abuse

rasklnik

I'm in Harbin, so I win...the winternet!

Dec 21, 2014 20:55 Report Abuse

musicjunkiealex

Alternatively, don't live anywhere near Northern China. I live in Shenzhen where it's 18C today in the middle of December, I walked my dog in a t-shirt this morning and don't even have a heater in my flat. Problem solved.

Dec 20, 2014 17:26 Report Abuse

bill8899

get lost! just kidding. I'm in Jiangsu and I think it's freezing here.

Dec 21, 2014 18:12 Report Abuse

WCG

Winter time easy fixes: 1) Grow a beard. 2) Have your wife or girlfriend order Swiss Miss hot cocoa with marshmallows or Campbell's chicken soup in bulk from taobao to have available. 3) Buy a coffee machine. 4) Spend 100 rmb on thermo underwear available on every street corner (it works wonders). 5) Cook the hearty/heavy foods that you don't/can't appreciate during the heat of the summer. 6) Spend your icy nights planning your next summer time adventure.

Dec 23, 2013 10:50 Report Abuse

coineineagh

At first I was opposed to wearing thermo underwear (kinda like thick stockings) inside my regular pants, but I suffer from coughing and cold symptoms far less in the winter now (some freaky virus plagues everyon in summer, though). It's a habit we should learn to take over in the west. Much cheaper and more environmentally friendly than central heating day-in-day-out.

Dec 26, 2013 17:39 Report Abuse

coineineagh

it isn't. who claimed it was?

Jan 27, 2016 02:23 Report Abuse

sharkies

Gotta have an electric blanket. A nice Chinese girl is also a good way of keeping warm. But don't keep her in bed for too long or she won't want to leave.

Dec 23, 2013 09:25 Report Abuse

GuestBob

Drink hot water.

Dec 23, 2013 09:14 Report Abuse

sorrel

There are great winter clothes available here in China at reasonable prices. It's not rocket science to find them for sale

Dec 23, 2013 08:23 Report Abuse