A Month-by-Month China Travel Guide: Where to Travel in China in January
A year-round guide to discovering China’s most beautiful, culturally rich, and seasonally perfect destinations.
China in January is a land of opposites. In the north, fairy lights twinkle over ice palaces and Siberian winds freeze rivers into highways. In the south, palm trees sway over tropical feasts and rice terraces shimmer with morning mist. It’s a month that rewards the adventurous: those who lean into the cold or escape it with intention. Whether you’re wrapping up in snow boots or heading off in sandals, these destinations offer beauty, calm, and a fresh way to start your year.
January
Snow Kingdoms, Stillness, and Warm Escapes
Harbin, Heilongjiang
Frozen fairytales and neon-lit ice kingdoms
Harbin, once a sleepy river port, was transformed in the early 20th century by Russian railways and émigrés fleeing revolution. The legacy lives on in its onion-domed churches, pastel architecture, and love for fur hats and borscht. But in January, the real magic is the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, a month-long dreamscape of glowing castles, intricate ice sculptures, and entire palaces carved from frozen blocks.
Top things to do:
Walk through the surreal, lit-up Ice and Snow World, best seen after dark.
Wander Sun Island’s Snow Expo to see enormous snow sculptures, many the size of buildings.
Skate, sled, or ride horse-drawn sleighs on the frozen Songhua River.
Explore Central Street (Zhongyang Dajie) for historic Russian-era buildings, bakeries, and winter snacks.
What to Eat: Try Guo Bao Rou (crispy sweet-and-sour pork), Russian borscht, steaming lamb hotpot, crispy sugar-glazed hawthorn skewers, baked milk buns, and bowls of northeastern suan cai (pickled cabbage) hotpot. Warm up with Hongjiu (Chinese mulled wine). Oh, and don’t forget the ice cream (yes, you read that right!)
Travel tips:
Average temperatures drop to –25°C. Thermal layers, face protection, and snow boots are essential.
The Ice and Snow Festival typically starts in late December and lasts through February, but the best sculptures appear by the first week of January.
Stay in the Daoli district for easy access to Central Street and the riverfront.
Changbai Mountain, Jilin
Volcanic peaks, snow forests, and hot spring serenity
Straddling the border with North Korea, Changbai Mountain is one of China’s most stunning natural landscapes, even in the depths of winter. The region’s volcanic origin created the vast crater lake Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), surrounded by birch forests, waterfalls, and geothermal springs. In January, its snowy landscapes feel remote and peaceful — a far cry from the festival crowds of Harbin.
Top things to do:
Ride snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles to the rim of Heavenly Lake (visibility permitting).
Soak in steaming outdoor hot springs as snow falls around you.
Hike through snow-covered forests teeming with wildlife tracks — if not the animals themselves.
Visit nearby Korean-Chinese villages for regional specialties and local hospitality.
What to eat: Korean-style cold noodles (served hot in winter!), ginseng chicken soup, wild mushroom stews, and sticky rice cakes.
Travel tips:
Base yourself in Erdaobaihe town for easy access to the scenic area.
The North Slope is most developed for winter tourism; the West Slope offers more wilderness.
Tianchi may be covered in mist or ice — early morning and clear days offer your best chance of a view.
Mohe & Beiji Village, Heilongjiang
China’s Arctic Circle: reindeer, northern lights, and polar night rituals
As China’s northernmost point, Mohe sits within the Arctic Circle and experiences some of the coldest, darkest nights in the country. Here, the “Arctic Village” of Beiji offers fire rituals, husky sled rides, and, if you’re lucky, a faint glimmer of the aurora borealis. This is bucket-list territory for those who don’t mind remote adventures and freezing temps.
Top things to do:
Visit Beiji Village for its wooden cabins, glowing red lanterns, and polar atmosphere.
Walk through the China-Russia Friendship Park to the Arctic landmark marker.
Try ice fishing, snowmobiling, or take part in the village’s fire festival.
Gaze up for aurora sightings — rare but possible under the right conditions.
What to eat: Wild mushroom soup, venison stew, reindeer jerky, and hot corn cakes with local honey.
Travel tips:
Reach Mohe by overnight train from Harbin (18+ hours) or seasonal flights.
Temperatures can hit –40°C — gear up like you're going to Siberia (because you practically are).
The isolation is part of the charm — come for the experience, not the comforts.
Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan
Frozen waterfalls and Tibetan quietude in a sacred valley
Most travelers come to Jiuzhaigou in the fall for its colors, but in winter, this UNESCO-listed nature reserve in northern Sichuan becomes something otherworldly. Icy waterfalls, snow-draped trees, and still turquoise lakes give the valley a meditative stillness that’s hard to describe — and even harder to forget.
Top things to do:
Visit the frozen Nuorilang and Pearl Shoal Waterfalls for surreal icy cascades.
Walk snow-covered boardwalks with no crowds in sight.
Stay in Tibetan-run guesthouses in nearby villages for hot yak butter tea and cozy nights.
Explore neighboring Huanglong (weather permitting) for its frozen travertine terraces.
What to eat: Yak stew, barley pancakes, Tibetan noodles, and fiery Sichuan-style hotpot.
Travel tips:
Dress warmly — it’s cold but dry, and the air is thinner at elevation.
Some trails may be closed for safety — check park conditions before entering.
Combine with a side trip to Songpan Ancient Town for a deeper cultural experience.
Chengdu & Mount Emei, Sichuan
City comfort meets sacred snowy peaks
In winter, Chengdu is a cozy delight: spicy food, steaming tea houses, and parks full of locals playing mahjong in puffer jackets. Just two hours away, Mount Emei, one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains, offers snow-covered temples and golden cloudscapes — an unforgettable blend of spiritual and seasonal wonder.
Top things to do (Chengdu):
Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Base early in the morning when pandas are most active.
Sip jasmine or chrysanthemum tea at People’s Park and eavesdrop on local gossip.
Explore Kuanzhai Alleys for snacks, tea, and architecture.
Warm up with a bowl of mapo tofu or classic spicy hotpot.
Top things to do (Emei):
Hike the lower forest trails to temples like Baoguo and Fuhu.
Ride the cable car to the Golden Summit for sea-of-cloud views and snow-covered temples.
Sleep in a monastery guesthouse for a peaceful night under the stars.
Travel tips:
Chengdu stays mild (8–12°C), but Emei’s summit is below freezing. Dress accordingly.
Avoid weekends at Emei — weekday visits offer quiet and space to reflect.
Bring motion sickness meds if you’re driving up the winding roads.
Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province
Jungle warmth, Dai culture, and Southeast Asian flavors
Tucked between Laos and Myanmar, Xishuangbanna feels more like Southeast Asia than inland China. In January, temperatures hover around 25°C, markets overflow with tropical fruit, and Buddhist temples shimmer under clear skies. It’s the antidote to winter chill — a place where sandals and slow mornings reign.
Top things to do:
Visit the massive Tropical Botanical Garden in Menglun — a living encyclopedia of Asian flora.
Wander Jinghong’s night markets for grilled fish, jackfruit, and sticky rice.
Explore Dai minority villages with stilt houses, bamboo cooking, and bright textiles.
Take a jungle hike or river cruise near the border areas.
What to eat: Dai-style grilled sour fish, lemongrass chicken, banana flower salad, and coconut milk rice.
Travel tips:
It’s dry season — ideal for hikes and markets.
Rent a scooter or car to explore at your own pace.
Bring bug spray for jungle outings, but otherwise, pack light.
Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Yunnan
Mirrors of the sky and Hani ingenuity
The Yuanyang terraces are a feat of Hani engineering — centuries-old rice paddies carved into the mountains like staircases to the sky. In winter, they’re flooded with water to prepare for spring planting, and the result is mesmerizing: reflections of clouds, stars, and sunrise turning the hillsides into shifting palettes of gold and silver.
Top things to do:
Watch sunrise at Duoyishu, with villages and valleys bathed in light.
Visit Azheke or Qingkou villages to learn about Hani customs and earthen houses.
Walk the trails connecting terrace viewpoints and rest under centuries-old trees.
Try local rice wine or join a small village celebration if visiting near Lunar New Year.
What to eat: Bamboo rice, pork roasted on an open fire, sticky rice balls, and wild mountain vegetables.
Travel tips:
Best reflections are from December to February.
Stay in guesthouses with panoramic terraces — they’re often small but spectacular.
Roads can be winding; arrange private transport if possible.
January in China is a month of striking contrasts where you can walk through frozen fairytales in the north or sip coconut water under tropical skies in the south. Whether you're chasing the glowing ice palaces of Harbin, soaking in volcanic hot springs in Jilin, or wandering through rainforest temples in Xishuangbanna, winter here is anything but dull. It’s a time to lean into extremes: icy or fiery, quiet or festive, remote or resort-ready.
Already dreaming of snow trails or sunshine escapes? Bookmark your favorites, build your bucket list, or use this guide to start crafting your first trip of the year. And when you’re ready to plan February, we’ve got you covered there too.