The Top 9 Places to Visit in China in December

With low-season prices, quietness at the sights, and a wide variety of activities to enjoy from north to south, traveling in China in December offersgreat Christmas and New Year holiday experiencesfor you and your family.

China's northern and central areascan usually provide you with a snowy Christmas, while Yunnan and Sanyain the southhave warm tropical weather. Don't be surprised if I say thatLhasa in Tibetis also a good choice for a comparatively warm holiday. Lhasa is called the 'sunlight city': its daytime highs of around 8°C in December feel much warmer.

The following 9 top places have been hand-picked for the upcoming 2023 festive season.They are all family-friendly, providing fun for both adults and kids.

Have a snowy Christmas in:

• Harbin: Ice and Snow Festival, skiing, hot springs...
• Mt. Changbaishan: snow, skiing, frozen Heavenly Lake
• Inner Mongolia: reindeer, nomadic life, BBQ in the snowy forest...
• Chengdu: hot pots, snacks, pandas, glacial valleys...
• Beijing: skiing, hot springs, the Great Wall...
• Northern Xinjiang: snow skiing, minority culture, vast landscapes...

Have a warm Christmas in:

• Yunnan: clear skies, diverse landscapes, minority culture...
• Sanya: sunny beaches, resorts with pools, sea foods...
• Lhasa: sunshine, Potala Palace, plateau scenery....

1. Beijing - Great Wall, Skiing, Hot Springs...

Snow-capped Forbidden City

Thespecial silence of winterwith fewer tourists in Beijing will make your visits to historical sites much more peaceful and profound. TheForbidden City, theGreat Wall, and theSummer Palaceremain unmissable.

If you happen to see snowy weather (some snow always falls in December), you will appreciatethe capital's graceful snow scenery, especially the awesome Great Wall starkly outlined on white ridges, and white snow on the golden glazed tiles and red wall backdrop of the Forbidden City.

Skiing is one of the most popular activities for families when traveling to Beijing in December. By December all Beijing's ski resorts are open. SeeBeijing's Top 10 Ski ResortsandBest Places to See Snow in Beijing>>>

Gubei Water Town(1 hour from Nanshan Ski Resort or 2 hours from Beijing) should not missed if you dream of spectacularnight views of the Great Wall, are curious abouttraditional Beijingese folk customs, and like toenjoy hot tubs in winter.

All ourBeijing tourscan be customized to make the most of winter!

• 5-Day Beijing Family Tour
• 4-Day Beijing Private Tour: Explore Beijing with an Emperor's Tour
• 4-Day Beijing Private Tour to Visit the Great Wall at Night
• 6-Day Beijing Winter Tour with Skiing in a 2022 Olympic Winter Games Venue

11-Day Tour: Beijing – Xi'an – Guilin/Yangshuo – ShanghaiClassic Wonders

China Highlights,Asia Highlights, andGlobal Highlightscollaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.

One Day Beijing Trip (Great Wall, Summer Palace) With Jennifer My tour guide Jennifer made this quick one day trip to Beijing great! The day started out a bit overcast and rainy when I landed, but Jennifer’s positive attitude and kind communication (along with her being able to keep up/put up with my jokes) made it fine.Despite this, Jennifer and our driver Chen were able to swing an extra photo shoot stop at the Olympic Stadium. I guess it gives me an excuse to come back to visit again, and when I do - I will use China Highlights and this great fantastic team. more Sep 2023, Alan Landau

Best Great Wall experience Used China Highlights for a private all-day tour of Jinshanling portion of the Great Wall. One of the best days of my life! Tour guide Alan and a driver met me at my hotel and the ride was very comfortable. Alan was extremely knowledgable and friendly, I really enjoyed talking with him. The scenery was astoundingly beautiful; this is a less touristy portion of the Wall. The hiking was fun, Alan brought plenty of water, and showed me things I would not have noticed by myself. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a local restaurant for lunch that Alan had arranged - delicious! Once in a lifetime experience. more Sep 2023, LZviajera

非标准的私人中国之旅 I booked a 4 weeks private China tour with ChinaHighlights covering landscapes and cultural sites between Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Hangzhou and Shanghai. The entire tour was set up accurately, very fast and in the light of all relevant personal preferences by Mrs. Carol Wang, an expert in organizing hand made voyages in China. Due to her knowledge and immediate responses the tour was scheduled comfortably and straightforward, including all transfers and authentic hotel bookings. I highly recommend ChinaHighlights and in particular Carol Wang for organizing any extraordinary, non-mainstream travel to China. more Sep 2023, Dr. Manfred Leubner

Best way to see Beijing Our guide Lily Liu was lovely - super patient, warm, knowledgeable about Chinese history, and great English skills. Would definitely recommend this service! more Sep 2023, Stephanie N

Amazing tour! 我们的导游,琳达,是迄今为止最好的人哈ve for our tours of The Forbidden City, Tianamen Square, and Mutianyu Great Wall. She was an encyclopedia with great knowledge of Chinese History and was able to explain every detail of what we were seeing. She picked us up with a very nice car and driver from our hotel both days, at the time most convenient to us, and dropped us back off wherever we wanted at the end of our tours. Both the Forbidden City and the Great Wall are marvels of human and Chinese achievements and are a must to see in Beijing. Visiting them both with a tour guide that feels more like a friend was certainly helping enjoying it even more. more Sep 2023, Robin Z

Beijing is AMAZING 琳达王我们的惊人的导游帮助我们甲型肝炎e an unforgettable trip to all the best of Beijing. From organizing the driver (also excellent) to drop us/pick us up exactly when we were leaving busy tourist sites, excellent food recommendations, fascinating knowledge relevant to us and our children (13yo and 11yo) making The Forbidden City, Tiannamen Square, Great Wall, Beijing Zoo and The Hutongs thoroughly enjoyable. Handling all the entrance/exit passport and ticket requirements, interpreting, answering any questions we had about local culture, we were so comfortable and happy, never rushed, everything you could want and more. more Sep 2023, Michelle A

Personal Private tour China Me and my wife have book a personal private tour to China with China Highlights in March'23 and I must say Ms Maggie Jiang has been very helpfully all along. Advising us on the trips, Visa, Covid and details of our trips coming this 18th September'23. We hope that with all the information provided by Maggie, we should be enjoying our coming tour in China. more Sep 2023, John Wee

Very helpful with trip planning Planned a trip to Beijing for around a week with China highlights. The consultant Silvia did a great job creating the itinerary of the trip. more Sep 2023, ax zx

Streamlined and Customized Trip Planning at its Finest! Roger Li has crafted the most amazing trip for my family for next summer! We have emailed back and forth about different experiences I wanted to add, and he always responded within a few hours. He actually ended up creating 4 different itineraries for me to choose from! Now we’re all set for a completely customized trip to China that includes all the major sites plus cultural experiences! I would recommend China Highlights to anyone thinking of going to China whether they are an experienced travel planner or a novice! Especially, if you get to work with Roger! more Sep 2023, Tamara Scheel

Unforgettable trip! Helen, my tour guide, to make possible this amazing first trip to China that I'll never forget! Each day was amazing, Helen helped a lot and was there since I got out to the arrival hall at the airport and replied all my curious questions related to China's history during the visit. For sure an unforgettable trip!!!! more Sep 2023, Rebeca Elena

强烈推荐 Our tour guide, Mark was excellent. He was very accommodating and knowledgeable! We wouldn’t have seen half the places without Mark. He was able to get us past crowds and organised passport entry. Alongside Mr Who, the driver, it made our time in China hassle free and very memorable! Thank you Mark, Mr Who and China Highlights! more Sep 2023, Sara N

Great service from China Highlights in planning my trip I've been very happy with the service I have gotten so far (noting that my trip has not happened yet). My agent Roger Li has been so helpful. He helped me plan the Guiling day trip according to special requests and had great advice on how to plan a unique trip away from the crowds. We couldn't be more excited. Roger was also happy to help and answer all the questions I had unrelated to my planned trip with them and to help me out when I had some issues when I accidentally gave the wrong information when booking train tickets. His replies were always prompt and friendly. I feel very comfortable traveling to China knowing I can reach out to Roger with any issues that may arise during our China Highlights trip. more Aug 2023, Jóna Marín ólafsdóttir

Beijing and a little beyond! We have recently returned from an action packed 4-days in Beijing, including a trip to the Great Wall, in the company of Bruce, our tour guide from China Highlights. Bruce was very knowledgeable throughout the 4-days and took the time and effort to discuss various aspects of Chinese history with our teenage son, including quite a bit in mandarin . Our days were both busy and enjoyable and Bruce also seemed to know all the good places to eat – thanks Bruce and look forwards to next time! more Aug 2023, Mike M

China Highlights - Beijing Our trip to Beijing with China Highlights was amazing! We took our 12 year old daughter. Mark our guide did a wonderful job making sure we were all comfortable, stayed busy and got acclimated to China as Beijing was our first stop on the mainland. Mark has a lot of knowledge about China and the sites we saw and communication was easy (with us and with our daughter in Chinese). Thanks Mark! more Aug 2023, Breton P

2-day Beijing Top notch! Our 2-day Beijing trip was very well organised and tailored to our wishes. We visited the Great wall, Tiananmen square, forbidden city and had food at local restaurants. Email contact with China Highlights (Chandler Wang) was very convenient and replies were quick. Our tour guide (Felix) was very knowledgeable and very easy to speak to. The local restaurants visited during our trip had amazing food, really great experience! We had a great time and would definitely use China Highlights again. Thank you! more Aug 2023, Jonna

Der Partner für eine individuelle China Reise Die Agency (in unserem Fall vertreten durch Tutu Sun) hat für uns eine perfekte Reise organisiert. Sehr gute Kommunikation im Vorfeld der Reise und vor Ort. Zu 100% verl?sslich, immer pünktlich und an jedem Ort sehr freundliche und engagierte Guides. Wir k?nnen eine Buchung bei diesem Unternehmen absolut und uneingeschr?nkt empfehlen. In Beijing hatten wir mit Herrn Chen 3 interessante Tage inklusive einer sehr spannenden individuellen Wanderung auf der grossen Mauer. more Aug 2023, Jeanne K

Beijing Tour Bruce was an amazing guide and very knowledgeable. He got me past ALOT of long lines fast and knew all the best places to go to take pictures! Also provided good recommendations for additional activities! If you get Bruce you’re in good hands! more Aug 2023, Anthony L

Great two weeks in China with China Highlights The trip included Shanghai where Kris was our amazing guide, Guilin and Yangshuo with Gary who did an amazing job at adjusting the schedule to meet our needs given the incredible heat, Chengdu with Helen who shared her passion for the Pandas with us, had fun in the peoples park with us and introduced us to the local opera which was fascinating and ensured we were able to taste amazing Sizhuan food without burning up! We then moved on to Xian with Jenny who ensured we got to the Terracotta army early enough to get an amazing view, took us to try our hand at making our own warriors, was very knowledgable about the history of Xian which was very interesting and lastly allowed us to try making dumplings which we all loved. Our final stop was Beijing. Ethan was our tour guide and he again did an amazing job ensuring we got to the Great Wall of China early enough to see the amazing wall without too many people and whilst it was still relatively cool, share his great knowledge of the Forbidden City and Summer Palace with us, introduced us to the Beijing Hot Pot and importantly ensured we were able to celebrate our sons 18th birthday in style and with his favourite Chinese food!! Thank you again for making our 2 weeks so special and we will for sure be back very soon. more Aug 2023, Sandra

There is tour guides and there is felix I had a blast with this tour! Felix is such an amazing person and so knowledgeable! He understands how to share knowledge and make us interested! Me and my friends had a wonderful day with Felix around the city I highly recommend China Highlights and would most likely recommend felix!!! more Aug 2023, PrettoMauricio

Jennifer is an awesome guide and the… Jennifer is an awesome guide and the tours were great! more Aug 2023, Renan Santos

2. Harbin - A World of Ice and Snow

Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

When winter comes,Harbinis decorated with awesome ice and snow art. "Ice City" Harbin definitely has all the elements of a great winter holiday.

The Songhua River, flowing through Harbin City is frozen for over 6 months of the year! In early December, ice pickers begin to collect huge ice blocks for the annualHarbin Ice and Snow Festival. Cheerfulwinter activities— ice sledding, hovercraft rides, snowmobiles, buggies, etc. — are set up on the frozen river for both adults and children, which no one can resist.

Walking on Central Street, you may find artists arecarving smaller ice blocksinto masterpieces. A taste ofMadie'er ice creamis a must-do in winter.

Want ahuge sculpture preview experience? Though the Harbin Ice Festival officially opens on January 5, colorfully lit, life-size ice carvings, huge snowy designs, and gorgeous snow sculptures are already viewable during the Xmas period. Be the first to see the finished sculptures!

All-inclusiveYabuli Ski Resortis just 3 hours by car from Harbin. Feel the happiness and excitement of speeding through the snow when stepping off the top of the slope into the snowy wonderland of Yabuli Ski Resort.

• 1-Day Ice and Snow Fairyland Tour
• 5-Day Harbin and China Snow Town Tour
• 6-Day Harbin Ice Festival and Yabuli Club Med Tour

3. Mt. Changbaishan - Snow, Skiing, Frozen Heavenly Lake

Rafting on a hot spring river at the foot of Changbai Mountain

Changbaishan (长白山) means "Forever-White Mountain", and its top is covered with snow all the year round. It is located Located in Jilin Province at the border of China and North Korea.At 42° north (the perfect latitude for ice and snow, similar to Switzerland),Changbaishan is considered a ski paradise and one of the best areas to enjoy snow scenery in China.

In Changbaishan, besides theexciting skiing activities, thefairytale snow theme parks, thefrozen Heavely Lake, thetallest volcanic waterfall, and therelaxing hot springs, you can also tryrafting on a hot spring riverat the foot of Changbai Mountain when the air temperature is -30°C (-22°F).Be the coolest one in your WeChat Moments!

Changbaishan is the only place in China offering raft rides on a hot spring river with gorgeous rime on both sides (and then only when the weather is fine in the morning). The water temperature is kept between 6 and 8°C (43–46°F) in winter, and it never freezes. Don't be afraid of getting wet. The water will freeze immediately after falling on the rubber boat!

• 7-Day Harbin, China Snow Town, and Changbai Mountain Tour

4. Inner Mongolia - Feed the Reindeer and Experience Nomadic Life

Hulunbuir

Inner Mongolia is not just highly visited for its beautiful grassland vistas. It is also a popular winter destination known for itsboundless ice and snow sceneryandprimitive nomadic culture.

Traveling to Inner Mongolia in winter will no doubt refresh your senses and provide a beautiful contrast to hectic city life.

• Experiencehorse riding, snowmobile riding, and ice fishingin the vast snow prairies.
• Visitthe last reindeer herder's tribein China and get close to reindeers like Santa's.
• Visit the last remaining six families inChina's coldest village, feel their enthusiasm for their harsh lives, and find out how they combat the extreme cold.
• Sleep ona traditional heated brick bedand work with local people to experience authentic Mongolian daily life.

• 6-Day Hulunbuir Winter Tour with Reindeer Experience

5. Chengdu - a Mix of Ice and Fire

Giant Pandas in the snow

If you're seeking for a holiday that combines sightseeing and askiingexperience,fine foodandgiant pandas, then Chengdu is highly recommended for you.

You can taste real Sichuan food and learn how to cook authentic Sichuan cuisine inChengdu. You can also enjoy the fun of skiing in beautifulBipenggou National Park(3½ hours away by car), and soak in a natural mineral hot spring in a snowy wonderland.

On the way from Chengdu to Bipenggou, don't missencountering the adorable giant pandas in Dujiangyan Panda Base, where aPanda Keeper Programis currently available. Booking in advance is required.

13-Day Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Shanghai Educational Family VacationChinese Language and Culture Immersion Tour

6. Northern Xinjiang - a Fairytale World

Fairytale World - Kanas

The snow scenery in northern Xinjiang is definitely worth exploring.

Kanas's winter is likea Chinese ink painting. Villages are scattered in the boundless snowscape, the morning mist rises from the streams, the crystal-clear rime hangs on the birch trees... (How to Plan a Trip to Kanas)

InHemuVillage, you will enter intoa fairytale scene. The cabins deep in the snowy forest glow with warm orange light and their pointed roofs are covered with thick white snow.

One factor to note is thatall flights from Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhoumust stop first in Urumqi after a 4–5-hour journey. Two nights are suggested in Urumqi to take in its exotic Muslim folk culture. From Urumqi to Kanas, it takes less than 1½ hours.A comparatively long journey to Northern Xinjiang will reward your family with an awesome other-worldly experience.

• 8-Day North Xinjiang Tour with Kanas
• 7-Day Xinjiang Highlights Tour

7. Yunnan — Be Spoiled with Sunshine

Lijiang Ancient Town

With clear skies prevailing above Erhai Lake inDali, warm winter sunshine in the ancient town ofLijiang, the pristine and holy land ofShangri-La, and exotic tropical rainforest inXishuangbanna,Yunnanhas become a top destination for China expats, especially family groups.

Would you like an adventure?Take a 2–3-day hike throughTiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world.12月是远足的最好的一个月it, when you can enjoy the natural pure green color of the Jinsha River, and have remarkable views from the steep 28 Bends. Our3-Day Tiger Leaping Gorge and Stone Village Hiking Tourwill ensure you the best experience of adventurous hiking in Lijiang.

• 9-Day Yunnan Family Tour
• 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour
• 7-Day Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang Winter Tour
• 6-Day Xishuangbanna and Pu'er Tour

15-Day Shanghai, Kunming, Shangri-la, Lijiang, Chengdu, Xi'an and Beijing TourWorld Heritage & Southern China Discovery

8. Sanya — Sunshine, Beaches, and Ocean Fun

Enjoy the sunny beach in Sanya.

Sanya isthe warmest city in Chinain December with an average high of 27°C (81°F).

漫长的海岸线,灿烂的阳光,romantic islands, and golden shores make Sanya a favorite winter destination for travelers. Some even say that its beautiful beaches make it the "Hawaii of China".

There, you canleave your winter coat behindand snorkel in the sparkling blue ocean. Try some exciting watersports, like banana boats, water scooters, and sailing.

Sanya has about seven bays with coveted beaches to choose from.Yalong Bay is the most recommended one for couples and familiesas it has the most beautiful beaches, cleaner seas, and high-standard hotels.The Hilton Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spahas outstanding facilities for children.The Earthly Paradise Bird's Nest Resort,虽然远离beach, brings you an incredible rainforest experience. Alternatively, get away from the crowds atPark Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resortwith its own private beach, and enjoy peaceful relaxation. Want an all-inclusive experience? Then, chooseClub Med at Sanya Bay. (Sanya Travel Guide: How to Select Your Beach and Hotel)

• 6-Day Sanya and Wanning Tour
• 5-Day Sanya Tour with the Best Beach

9. Lhasa - Sunshine, Potala Palace, Plateau Scenery...

Visit Lhasa in Winter

Compared with other seasons,Lhasa in December is more laid back.

Pilgrims come in from near and far. Local people sit basking in the warm midday sunshine or enjoying a cup of yak butter tea and chatting in a teahouse. With no crowds, probably you will find you are the only tourist in some places. Only when you are traveling in Lhasa in winter can you can experiencethe most authentic lifethere.

Although Tibet transportation is usually costly, in December you may findunprecedented discounts on airfares— up to 80% off. While all entrance tickets are at low season rates, some sights are even free for entry!

Fall in love with the "sunlight city" — take our5-Day Tibet Winter Tour. Other popular118bet金博宝app for inspiration:

• 7-Day Tibet Tour by Train from Xining
• 8-Day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour
• 8-Day Tibet Tour including Tsedang, Shigatse, and Lhasa

2-Week Private Tour: Beijing–Xi'an–Lhasa-ShanghaiBeautiful China with Holy Tibet

China in December — December Travel FAQs

Snow-capped yellow roofs and red walls in the Forbidden City.

To enjoy the coming Xmas and New Year holiday, and to use up your remaining vacation days, you might be struggling to decide on a December tour in China and have the following questions. Take some time to find out the FAQ answers for China travel in December before moving forward.