Korean Job Discussion Forums

[goater]

In a bit of a panic, just been told my winter holiday is January 17-23 - but where do I go?

I'm not really a beach person,. and I've never been to China so I thought that would be a good idea. Any help would be really appreciated.

Have done abit of research and think my options are:

1. Harbin - are there good day trips out of Harbin as Im there for probably 5 whole days.
I don't mind the cold but is there enough to do?

2.Shanghai - and then travel to Suzhou/Zhujiajiao, Hangzhou, Huangshan
This would be good but is it too ambitious for probably 5 whole days (after flights) to travel to each place every day?

3. Yangshou/Guilin or maybe Lijiang?
This place looks warm and good but again is there enough to do/ do I have enough time?

Again any help would be greatly appreciated

[interestedinhanguk]

I don't know a ton about those places. I know you say you don't mind the cold, but from what I understand, Harbin is a totally different level of cold that most of us are accustomed to. You'd probably be investing in a whole new set of winter clothing to deal with the temperatures.

Have a look here:

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/climate/harbin.htm

Avg high in January is -13C/9F
Ave low in January is -24C/-11F

[samd]

Option 2 sounds best. Also, you can take the train from Shanghai to Hangzhou and Suzhou (probably the other place you mentioned too, but I haven't been there) and they make good days trips. Five days is a good amount of time to do the three cities.

Option 1 is too cold and Harbin is not that exciting a city if you're looking for an action-packed 5 day vacation. Option 3 would be good too, but it's further away, and I would want more time in that region.

[JBomb]

I heard Guilin is amazing, but I had buddies who were down in Shanghai last year for New Years and loved it.

[Gamecock]

Harbin is great if the ice festival is taking place at that time. If you can handle the cold, its a very unique experience, although maybe there isn't enough to see fill your vacation time- maybe a couple days in Harbin and a few days in Beijing?

I'm not really a city person, so Shanghai doesn't appeal to me so much. Hangzhou is beautiful, but January is not the best time to visit. I'd recommend the second itinerary for another vacation in a better season when you have a little more time.

Yangshuo/Guilin is REALLY fantastic. I can't recommend it enough. January can be cool (but not as cold as Korea). For about 5-6 days this is where I could go if I were you.

[shostahoosier]

I'm from a pretty cold area of the US. I went to China (Beijing) for Chuseok and it was pretty cold there for it being December, so I could only imagine how cold it would be in January! >_<

[goater]

Im embracing the cold, spending a few days in Beijing and a few days in Harbin.

Thanks for the advice!

[Komichi]

I went to the ice festival in Harbin, and while certainly a unique experience it was far too cold for me to get any joy out of being there. Thought my various appendages were succumbing to frost bite before the tour was over.

[jomiro]

youd be crazy to go to harbin in the winter. youll be freezing your butt off. literally.
and apart from the ice sculpture festival there is nothing to see or do in/ around harbin.

i also wouldnt suggest you to go to suzhou. its just very touristy there, and theres nothing for you to see that you couldnt see in prettier colors anywhere else in china. hangzhou is really, really nice. but i have to agree with the previous poster... its not the right time to go there in january.

option 3: cant really say anything about it.

however, if you do travel the north, pack your thickest winter clothes. my friends all tell me to do that as ill be going to beijing on jan 10th. they say that this winter will be the coldest winter ever - even colder and longer than last years winter. (which, in seoul, we have only really seen parts of it in terms of snow and cold temperatures).