Journeys to China's winter wonderlands

Due north

Going deeper into Heilongjiang, the route takes travelers to the country's northernmost point of Mohe city and the easternmost point of Fuyuan city.

In addition to the rich winter fun offerings in the provincial capital of Harbin, travelers can visit the Zhalong National Nature Reserve in Qiqihar, which is the world's biggest habitat and reproduction base of wild red-crowned cranes. In Heihe city, the Wudalianchi, or "Five Connected Lakes", preserves typical volcanic landforms and serves as a giant natural volcanic museum. Beiji village, about 88 km from the central city, is a perennial favorite for tourists who come to Mohe. It boasts China's northernmost bank and post office. Tourists can look out across the border with Russia from the village.

A shining pearl

This route starts off in Gansu's Pingliang city and crosses 17 cities to end in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. There are more than 30 winter tourism hot spots and major scenic spots.

Gansu's capital Lanzhou offers rich ski experiences, such as the Longshan international ski resort. Other highlights in Gansu include Jiayuguan, a pass at the western end of the Great Wall dating back to the Ming Dynasty, the Danxia landform in Zhangye, a landscape characterized by its red sandstone, and Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang.

In Xinjiang, ski enthusiasts can easily find their fun in the region's capital Urumqi, and nature enthusiasts can take a trip to the Tianshan Grand Canyon about 40 km from the city center. The canyon stands 1,600 meters above sea level, with its highest peak reaching 2,048 meters, and is made up of ranges of reddish brown massifs. The ancient city of Kashgar is home to Uygur folk customs, culture, art and architectural styles. It has been widely considered a shining pearl on the Xinjiang section of the Silk Road and a must-visit place when in the region.

Driven by the pure snow

Taking travelers north of Xinjiang, and covering eight cities across the region, this route offers 10 major ski resorts, including the Silk Road International Ski Resort in Urumqi, the Longshan Ski Field in Karamay, and Jiangjunshan Ski Resort in the city of Altay.

Great views and a closeness to nature can be experienced at the Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), a small mountain lake in Tianshan Tianchi National Park, which offers magnificent vistas of the surrounding snow-capped peaks, as well as the Dushanzi Grand Canyon in Karamay city. The canyon was listed by the National Geographic magazine as one of the most beautiful canyons in Xinjiang.

Multiple winter tourism festivals will also be staged along the route to heat up the cold air.

Southern slopes

The route takes in 22 cities in Central China's Hubei and Southwest China's Sichuan provinces and Chongqing municipality, all of which boast well-developed winter tourism packages.

Ski experiences have been prepared in the three provinces, where there's more worth exploring than just snow and ice. Shennongjia in Hubei protects the largest primary forests remaining in Central China and provides habitats for many rare animal species, including the Chinese giant salamander, the golden, or Sichuan snub-nosed monkey, the clouded leopard and the Asian black bear. It is a major center of biodiversity in the country. The Enshi Grand Canyon is another great attraction in Hubei. It sits in the Enshi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture and is home to cliffs stretching hundreds of kilometers.

In Chongqing, visitors shouldn't miss the Wulong Karst National Geology Park, which sits on the lower reaches of the Wujiang River in the southwest of municipality. The area was named a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007. It is a cluster of several karst landscapes, including gorges, natural bridges, caves, shafts and underground streams.

In Sichuan, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Leshan Giant Buddha and Emei Mountain Resort will all promise an unforgettable experience.