China is gearing up for a busy Spring Festival holiday, with a big increase in tourism expected. The festival is a key time for family gatherings and marks the start of spring. China’s tourist destinations are becoming popular with international travelers, offering a variety of activities, stunning scenery, rich culture, and delicious cuisine.
Last year, China introduced a visa-free policy for certain countries, and recently implemented measures to facilitate entry for foreign nationals, boosting inbound travel. According to Trip.com, inbound travel orders during the holiday season have increased over 10 times compared to last year, with most orders coming from countries such as Japan, the United States, South Korea, Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Vietnam, Germany, and Thailand.
If you’re planning to visit, check out the tour recommendations and tips below.
Awesome spots for winter fun
Winter sports are totally taking off in China after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. So, if you’re planning a trip, you gotta check out Harbin. It’s a hot spot for tourists, especially the Harbin Ice-Snow World. You can cruise through tons of frozen scenes and get in on cool activities like ice biking and snowmobiling. Oh, and there’s a massive 400-foot-tall Ferris wheel for getting a bird’s eye view of the icy wonderland.
For all you winter sports buffs, take a three-hour train ride from Harbin to Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province. It’s loaded with awesome ski resorts and epic powder snow for shredding. While you’re there, don’t miss the stunning Tianchi crater lake and maybe give canyon rafting a go.
And if you’re up for something different, swing by the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, just around 200 km from Changbai Mountain. Right now, they’ve got a rad lantern festival with Korean folk customs and quirky activities like “Snow House Hot Pot” and “Snowfield Hot Springs.”
Jilin is totally stepping up its game for visitors with 27 sweet measures, like discounts on tickets and tourist vouchers. Gotta love those perks!
Absolutely stunning natural beauty
The coastal city of Sanya in south China’s Hainan Province is a super cool spot for tourists. It’s famous for its awesome sea views and sunny weather, making it a perfect getaway from the cold winter. Tourists can chill out with activities like sunbathing, diving, and strolling through the tropical forest. Sanya will throw some rad events during the Spring Festival, including art shows and a beer festival.
Kunming, the capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, is known as the “Spring City” for its sweet weather. It’s surrounded by mountains and has the lovely Dianchi Lake. Every winter, birds from Russia’s Siberian region visit the city. Tourists can check out cool attractions like stone forests and karst landforms.
Pingyao, an ancient city in north China’s Shanxi Province, is a top choice for history buffs. It has a history of over 2,700 years and well-preserved ancient architecture. During the Spring Festival, visitors can rock traditional costumes and join in the festive celebrations. The city is beautifully decked out with golden lights and red lanterns, showing off its rich cultural heritage.
Cool places with totally unique customs!
For all you tourists who are into Chinese folk culture, you’ve gotta check out the temple fairs during the Spring Festival. They’re a big deal, especially up in north China. In Beijing, Ditan Park and Longtan Park throw some of the wildest temple fairs. You can catch classic lantern shows, chow down on local grub, and check out traditional Chinese crafts.
Down in Guangzhou, they put on some killer lion and dragon dances that really amp up the party vibes. In 2024, they’re going all out with dragon and lion dance parades, plus a fireworks show on the first day of the Spring Festival.
And we can’t forget about the lantern shows, a total must during the Spring Festival. Over in Shanghai’s Yuyuan Garden, they kicked off their month-long celebration on Jan. 21 and it’s going strong ’til the end of February. You’ll get to experience some truly magical scenes, like the zodiac dragon lantern, creating that perfect traditional Chinese atmosphere.
Yummy Eats
A trip to Beijing is a blast! You gotta check out the Great Wall and chow down on some Beijing Roast Duck. Quanjude’s spot in Beijing’s Qianmen area is super popular for this dish, but heads up, it’s always packed. After filling up at Quanjude, you can wander around the Qianmen district, snack on local treats, and soak up the lively vibe, especially during the Spring Festival.
If you’re into spicy grub, Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality in southwest China are the places to be for some real deal spicy cuisine. Cantonese chow is also a must-try, famous for its fresh and light flavors. You gotta try dishes like dim sum and roast goose, which you can find in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Handy Travel Tips
If you’re looking to make your travels a breeze, check out these handy tips.
- Need to sort out your group tour, flights, or hotel bookings in China? Easy peasy with the Trip.com or Qunar.com apps. Hit them up for help! 🌟
- Hungry for some good grub? Meituan and Dianping apps got your back with killer reviews and a huge range of dining options, from swanky spots to hidden gems.
- Getting around China like a pro is a breeze with the Baidu Map app. You can even hail a cab, just like with Didi, the go-to ride-hailing service there.
- Don’t sweat the payments in China with Alipay and WeChat Pay. They’re the big players for online transactions and now they accept international cards too! 💳
- If you want to dodge the crowds when you travel, aim for the middle of the holiday period. Also, check if the tourist spots and restaurants are open during the festival to avoid any disappointments!