China Winter Weather Tips

From the northern Xinjiang Autonomous Region to the southern Guizhou Province, main China recently has been dominated by cold weather such as snows, sleets, and freezing rains, due to continuous strikes of cold fronts from far Siberia.

The cold weather caused some inconvenience in some cities in the country's northern and western parts but stressed the winter beauty in other cities. On the contrary, southeastern China is less affected by the cold air and Hainan Island still enjoys the warm sunshine and cozy temperatures.

Northeastern China: cold as always, winter beauty doubled

Northeastern China (Heilongjiang province, Jilin Province, Liaoning Province) is the nation's earliest region that welcomes the winter season. People in this area are used to snow and the low temperatures (minus 20 centigrade on average). For the days in winter, they created lots of winter programs and enjoyed much of winter fun.

Harbin, famed as Oriental Moscow, is the capital of Heilongjiang Province and the host city of the well-known Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. Now the city, filled with a festive atmosphere, is an ideal place to have a winter vacation. Skiing, skating, and sledding could be fully enjoyed in Changchun, Shenyang, and other cities in the area.

Central China: light snow & low temperature, warm clothes required

Compared with previous years, cities in central China have a colder winter. Due to the cold fronts from the north, light snows or rains could be encountered in these cities like Xian, Taiyuan, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Wuhan, Hefei, and Nanjing, but would not affect transportation or cause any daily inconvenience in these places. Low temperatures would be a common thing in the near future there, so visitors should bring warm clothes with them.

Western China: heavy snows & rains, double-check local traffic conditions

Western China is the most influenced region by the recent cold weather. Heavy snows have fallen in Xinjiang Autonomous Region; several main roads were blocked off and some flights were changed. Guizhou, a province in southwestern China, was also stricken by the freezing rain and frozen roads. Most of the expressways were shut and many visitors had to make their travel by rails.

Though the weather condition in this area is not good, local officials are doing their best to keep transportation back to normal. It would be wise not to travel to Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, and Guizhou lately.

If those who have to travel there, China Odyssey Tours advises that you should double-check the local weather & traffic conditions before setting off. Plus you have to gear up with winter clothes, warm gloves and hats, umbrellas or raincoats, anti-skid shoes.

Southern China: less affected, everything is fine

Different from the other parts, Southern China is not much affected by the cold weather. Though rainfalls and temperature drops have been brought with the cold fronts, everything is fine and normal. Moreover, the tropical Hainan Island and other islands on the South China Sea still enjoy the clear sky, sufficient sunshine with cozy temperatures. Hainan is another wonderful place to skip the winter cold and get engaged in beach romances in China.