Winter travel from December to February, 6 hidden gems with few tourists and unique scenery

1. Hunan - Hengshan A great place in the south to enjoy snow and rime in winter. From December to February, it is the peak season for rime and snow scenery. Ice crystals enveloping the pines and cypresses form a stunning ice and snow corridor. The Zeng Guofan Ancient Trail overlooks the snow-covered sheer cliffs and ice walls, offering breathtaking views of the southern slope of Hengshan. Stay at a mid-mountain inn, and get up early to climb to the top of Zhurong Peak to see the sea of clouds intertwined with the snow’s sparkle. The Nanyue Grand Temple, known as the "Longevity Mountain of China," is a place to offer incense and pray for blessings. 2. Yunnan - Mile A warm winter town without biting cold. While the north is freezing, Mile in Yunnan welcomes you with warm sunshine between 15°C and 25°C. Dongfeng Yun Art Town and the Red Brick Kaleidoscope Art Museum glow warmly under the winter sun. Taiping Lake Forest Park also offers colorful winter scenery, and the karst park features tall cacti, orange-red firecracker flowers, white reeds, and scattered winter cherry blossoms. Keyi Town’s warm yellow earth houses are painted with ethnic stories, with scheduled Axi Moon Dance performances showcasing strong Yi ethnic customs. The lakes and palm trees at Huquan Ecological Park make it a perfect sunset spot. Soaking in Mile’s hot springs is very relaxing. Black goat hot pot has tender, non-gamey meat that warms you up with every bite. Braised chicken rice noodles are fresh and tender, irresistible from the first taste. 3. Sichuan - Siguniang Mountain From December to February, Shuangqiaogou Valley is surrounded by pure snowy mountains, ice lakes, and rime. No filter needed—every shot is a masterpiece. The redwood forest offers 360-degree panoramic views, perfect for photos. The straight road under Budala Peak leads to the snowy mountains. The Sigunaco plank road circles the lake, where you can lean on the walkway to photograph snowy mountains and dead trees together. Longzhucao is similar to Sigunaco but features more uniquely shaped dead trees. Ginseng Fruit Flat has photogenic wooden bridges and snow-covered meadows. 4. Gansu - Gannan Snow falls on Gannan with no crowded crowds. Red walls and golden roofs are covered in snow, and prayer flags flutter lightly over the snowy plains. The snowfield at Fairy Beach looks like a white velvet carpet. From a high vantage point, you can see smoke curling from the Tibetan village of Zhagana. In Runwu Valley, be sure to walk the wooden plank road on the left; the ice waterfall hanging on the cliff looks like a crystal palace. At dawn, watch the golden sunlight dye the snowy peaks red. The morning mist in Langmusi Town is ethereal. A one-hour hike in Namo Grand Canyon leads to the source of the Bailong River. Gahai Lake is frozen, with a lonely plank road stretching to the horizon. Walk the 3.5 km world’s longest prayer wheel corridor at Labrang Monastery. Paint a small Thangka by hand to take home a unique Gannan souvenir. 5. Jiangxi - Wuyuan Go to Huangling to see the autumn harvest drying and explore various ancient villages. Between Huizhou-style architecture and small bridges over flowing water lies the authentic charm of Jiangnan. The colorful autumn drying scenery at Huangling is the soul of Wuyuan’s autumn colors, lasting until around the Spring Festival. Shangtang Village’s large camphor tree is graceful and serene. Longwei Village features red maple reflections and flowing streams. Xiangao Ancient City offers a deep sense of historical and cultural heritage, with fish lantern performances. Jujing Village’s river circles the village almost entirely, and the nearby high ground offers panoramic shots. Chaguan Village’s ancient camphor trees, farmers with oxen, and pastoral scenery form a beautiful landscape. Zhang Village’s 180-meter-long bench bridge and Huizhou-style buildings are especially beautiful under the sunset glow. 6. Sichuan - Xichang Find a place to bask in the sun and refresh your mood. Dry and warm Xichang in winter is a great choice. From Chengdu, it takes only 3 hours by high-speed train. Jianchang Ancient City retains the Ming and Qing dynasty style, with blue-tiled houses as a perfect photo backdrop. Lushan Mountain can be explored on foot or by cable car, and the viewing platform overlooks all of Xichang and Qionghai Lake. Dashiban Village’s orange-red walls are visually striking, and the Lingying Temple in the ancient village is a highlight. The Jinlin Beach by Qionghai Lake is an excellent spot to watch the sunset. The Diaoyutai wooden bridge extending into Qionghai, with tree trunks in the water, creates a classic scene.