Warm Or Cold, Tourist Destinations Are Heating Up

_{A stunning winter view of Jingpo Lake in Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang province.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]}

Mafengwo, a tourism platform, recently released a report on the latest winter travel trends based on its big data, such as user browsing, search terms, sharing, consumption, and reviews.

The top 10 domestic destinations with the fastest-growing popularity are Mohe and Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province; Xishuangbanna, Tengchong and Kunming in Yunnan province; Changbai Mountain in the Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture; Altay in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region; Sanya, Hainan province; Changchun, Jilin province; and Zhuhai, Guangdong province.

Northern ice and snow destinations, such as Harbin, Changbai Mountain and Changchun, are upgrading infrastructure while focusing on developing unique experiences. They have transformed traditional snow-based activities into comprehensive offerings, integrating ice and snow sports, folk culture and leisure vacations.

Many travelers prefer warmer destinations in southern regions to escape the cold, such as Sanya and Tengchong. In addition to hiking in the rainforest on Jinuo Mountain in Xishuangbanna, tourists can also visit neighboring cities in Yunnan, like Pu'er, for stunning scenery and cultural experiences.

While enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the opening of ski resorts across China, leisure-focused travelers opt for hot springs, such as those in Qingyuan, Guangdong province.

Russia recently introduced a visa-free policy for Chinese tourists, making it a popular outbound winter destination. Murmansk, a premier aurora borealis sighting spot, has seen its popularity surge.

Russia's border destinations adjacent to Chinese port cities like Suifenhe and Heihe in Heilongjiang have also emerged as top picks for northbound Chinese travelers.

By Xu Lin | chinadaily.com.cn