Not sure where to go from December to January? Check out these places and see if you have any plans

【Xishuangbanna】From December to January, Xishuangbanna is the warmest green gem on the Tropic of Cancer, with 25°C sunshine penetrating the rainforest and the fragrant aroma of glutinous rice drifting from Dai bamboo houses. Although it’s not the Water Splashing Festival season, you can still warm up by participating in folk interactions, watch peacocks dance, stroll through the starlight night market, and turn the cold winter into an exotic warm dream amidst tropical fruit scents and ethnic songs and dances. 【Altay】Known as the birthplace of human skiing, Altay from December to January is covered in powder snow. The snow quality in Koktokay is soft like powder, and the slopes of General Mountain are suitable for beginners. Skiing here feels like floating on clouds. Stay overnight in a fairy-tale ice and snow cabin, gather around the stove to listen to the snow falling—this pure wild snow fun is a winter pilgrimage not to be missed by ski lovers. 【Mohe Beiji Village】From December to January, China’s northernmost point is the golden period for chasing the aurora—green and purple light bands dance in the dark night like a falling star river. Check in at the northernmost post office to send a postcard with an ice stamp, take photos at the boundary marker, and try the magic of “water splashing turning to ice.” In the biting cold of minus 40 degrees, the hottest romance is hidden. 【Lhasa】Winter in Lhasa sheds its hustle and bustle, with generous sunshine illuminating the golden roofs of the Potala Palace. Butter tea in the sweet tea houses warms travelers’ stomachs. If you happen to be there during the Tibetan New Year, you can participate in rituals like the Cham dance and Buddha sunning, feeling the warmth of faith on the prayer path. The purity of the plateau and the vibrancy of the festival intertwine, making it the perfect time for spiritual homecoming. 【Zhuhai Chimelong】From December to January, Ocean Kingdom dresses up for Christmas and New Year celebrations. The penguin sled parade is adorable, and the nighttime fireworks show lights up the bay area sky. The indoor venues are as warm as spring, where you can swim with whale sharks and watch polar bears play in the snow. With interactive activities for kids and a visual feast, it’s a warm winter paradise for the whole family to enjoy. 【Kunming Dianchi Lake】At this time every year, tens of thousands of black-headed gulls travel thousands of miles to Dianchi Lake, their white feathers dotting the deep blue water. When feeding, the gulls circle and fly like waves of snow. Take a walk along Green Lake, explore the old alleys of Wenlin Street, enjoy the first blooms of winter cherry blossoms and the warmth of coffee aromas. Thanks to these little spirits, the Spring City’s winter becomes the most lively ecological poetry and painting. 【Ulan Butong】From December to January, the Bashang Grassland transforms into a silver kingdom. Morning mist freezes into frost-covered trees, like jade on branches. Ride a horse through the snow and forest, leaving hoofprints that trace the snowy forest sea. At sunrise, golden light dyes the snowy slopes, capturing the most vivid ink-and-wash scroll of the northern country in your lens. 【Quanzhou Ancient City】From December to January, Quanzhou enjoys just the right amount of warm sunshine. In the arcade old streets of “half city smoke and fire, half city fairy,” the East and West Towers of Kaiyuan Temple quietly tell stories of the Tang and Song dynasties, while the crab pond women smile with flowers in their hair, filling the air with fragrance. Bite into the fresh local bamboo shoot jelly, sip a warm bowl of noodle soup, and the leisurely atmosphere of the Maritime Silk Road starting point unfolds amidst the smoke, fire, and ancient charm.