CHINA

Beyond the well-trodden paths of China’s cities, winter unveils realms where snow shapes legends and mountains guard silent, pristine beauty. In the far northwest, where the Tianshan Mountains pierce the sky, a different kind of Silk Road awaits – one draped in what locals proudly call “China’s driest snow.” At the Xinjiang Silk Road Ski Resort, the powder is so light it seems to vanish like silk thread upon touch. Here, the legendary Snow Wolf Slope descends over 4.4 kilometers through hushed pine forests and past grazing pastures, with the majestic Bogda Peak keeping watch over every turn. It feels less like skiing and more like gliding through a moving painting.

Meanwhile, over two thousand kilometers to the northeast – across the vast stretch of China’s majestic landscape – the snow-blanketed Changbai Mountain region comes alive with a festive, dual spirit. Two towns nestle beneath the sacred peak, each offering a unique winter sonnet. One is a haven of curated comfort – where slopes cater to every skill level and steaming outdoor hot springs await under snowfall. Just a morning train from Beijing, it brings you from urban rhythm into a quiet world of frost-laced birch forests.

Nearby, the other town glows with the warmth of tradition: reindeer wander through snowy woods, bonfires crackle under starry skies and the night sparkles with ancient iron-flower performances. Children laugh on gentle snow tubing lanes, while the art of sugar-haw making continues as it has for generations. This is winter not just to see, but to live – a season of play, ritual and nostalgia.

Together, these destinations reveal a China where winter is not a pause, but a celebration – of silence, speed, folklore and flame.