China

[Lu-Lu]

What would China, specifically the Great Wall and Xian be like in January? Do you have to fly from city to city or are the trains ok? Internal flights in China frightens me. Thinking of taking the kids to Hong Kong with a side trip to the Wall.
Thank you

 

[rechoboam]

Absolutely terrible IMHO. Great Wall/Beijing would be grey and absolutely freezing. There may be snow on the wall though.

I went to Beijing in January and it was like that. My relatives went as south as Shanghai and it was the same. Even as low as Guilin is cool. I will be in HGK though which I think will be OK, but not very warm. Don't go in July either- that was a shocker. However as state employees went home back then when the temp was 38 plus back then, luckily officially the temp was always 38 and not the 41 we measured. I would suggest spring or autumn.

Then again I wil be in Hokkaido in Jan which will be even colder. If you go, the merino thermals from NZ are superb (forgot the name)

 

[DTM1]

Many areas of the wall may be inaccessible in Janusry due to snowfall. Beijing and Xian are a long way from each other, and if you are planning a side trip from HKG, I would have thought you would pick 1 or the other. I cannot comment on the likely weather in Xian in January.

 

[mel-world]

The previous answer was generally correct. Having lived in Beijing for 4 years, I can tell you that it can get down to -15C plus wind chill in January. Dull and grey but little snow (maybe 10cm) given that Beijing is in a desert. However, if you like the cold, do not want the crowds and can enjoy the wall with snow, it can be an enjoyable time as you will not be as hassled as normal with tourists. Make sure you find out when Chinese New Year happens in the year you want to go and DO NOT go to China within a fortnight of that week. Everyone is moving around the country. Late March/April can be a good time to visit or September before the National Day holiday on October 1.

Internal flights in China are okay if always crowded as are the internal trains. You can get an overnight train (various classes) from Beijing to Xian then you could fly out from there to HKG or elsewhere in Asia. I would go down south though as well if you have a chance and enjoy the scenery. There is a lot to see in Beijing, not just the Wall so allow some time to explore the city, especially off the beaten track. Arrange to go to the Wall at Mutianyu rather than the much more commercial Badaling - a bit further from Beijing but a much better section of the wall and can still be done in a long day trip.

 

[rechoboam]

The previous answer was generally correct. Having lived in Beijing for 4 years, I can tell you that it can get down to -15C plus wind chill in January. Dull and grey but little snow (maybe 10cm) given that Beijing is in a desert. However, if you like the cold, do not want the crowds and can enjoy the wall with snow, it can be an enjoyable time as you will not be as hassled as normal with tourists. Make sure you find out when Chinese New Year happens in the year you want to go and DO NOT go to China within a fortnight of that week. Everyone is moving around the country. Late March/April can be a good time to visit or September before the National Day holiday on October 1.

Internal flights in China are okay if always crowded as are the internal trains. You can get an overnight train (various classes) from Beijing to Xian then you could fly out from there to HKG or elsewhere in Asia. I would go down south though as well if you have a chance and enjoy the scenery. There is a lot to see in Beijing, not just the Wall so allow some time to explore the city, especially off the beaten track. Arrange to go to the Wall at Mutianyu rather than the much more commercial Badaling - a bit further from Beijing but a much better section of the wall and can still be done in a long day trip.

Although I know how bad the North is in Jan, does anyone have specific experience of travelling in the south of China in winter? We have two weeks in HKG due to award flight (un)availability. and are looking for another destination in the area.

 

[munitalP]

Look at the China trip links from my SIG below (With pictures)

 

[simongr]

Also baking hot there right now!

 

[mole]

I lost 2 toenails after visiting the Great Wall in Winter (thought I was sufficiently rugged up, but apparently not)!! We have visited in both summer and winter and it is always much cooler on the wall due to the elevation. The January day we went up was a beautiful sunny and unsually clear day but bitterly cold and a wind that lowered the temperature even further. The clear day afforded a much better view than our visit in summer when there was lots of smog but we couldnt stay long as we were just too cold.

 

[seanpodge]

Xi'an should be fairly cold compared to Australian winters but milder that other places in northern China. Wiki claims average temp ranges of +5 to -5. Obviously if a cold snap hits it might get a fair bit lower (-10,-15). The wall is mainly built on hills and mountains, so expect it to be colder and winder than in the city.

Chinese New Year for 2013 is on the 10th of Febuary. Train tickets will become increasingly difficult to get from at least the 1st of Feb due to Chunyun and will become basically impossible to get for the Chinese New Year golden week which would be from the 10th to the 17th. Plane travel is preferable in this period since you can book well in advance (unlike 10-15 days for trains) and the higher prices mean that there is much less demand for plane tickets.

According to my timetable, Beijing to Xi'an train journeys range from about 9 to 15 hours. Prices range from 120 yuan (about $20) to 780 yuan (about $120) one way depending on the speed of the train and the ticket class (e.g. soft/hard seat/sleeper). Having done both, I'd say that I prefer the trains, but Chinese aviation is perfectly fine from my experience. It might be useful to note that the airline with one of the region's worst safety records, China Airways, is actually a Taiwanese airline with no relationship to any airline of the PRC. Definitely don't confuse it with Air China at any rate, which is a much safer bet, if not with all the bells and whistles of the likes of CX or SQ.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

What would China, specifically the Great Wall and Xian be like in January?

Would freeze the nuts off a Massey Ferguson!

A couple of years ago left MEL on New Years Day to fly to Beijing - NYE was 42c in MEL I think and NYD heading same way - min o/n like 25 or so - arrived in PEK at little after midnight and it was -10c - HFH.

Follow this link to historical records re Beijing weather January - Beijing Weather in January, Beijing Temperature in January 2012, Climate in Beijing

And here is a snip from same page - getting the picture Lu-Lu? After Jan 7 - days usually start to cool down a bit

 

[Happy Dude]

Sure, it'll be cold but I survived. Perhaps head north to Haerbin for the ice festival? Magical. Your kids would LOVE it.

 

[Hvr]

Sure, it'll be cold but I survived. Perhaps head north to Haerbin for the ice festival? Magical. Your kids would LOVE it.

Agree Harbin is magnificent.

The train trip took about eight hours but well worth seeing this festival. Read MunitalP's report for further information.