China Winter Experience

Welcome to Beijing. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your guide and driver in the arrivals hall and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax and settle in at your own pace. Overnight in Beijing.

After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and drive to Tiananmen Square, a site of immense historical and cultural importance. Here, you can view Mao’s portrait and visit his mausoleum at the far end of the square. From there, we walk to the Forbidden City, the imperial palace where Chinese emperors ruled for five centuries. Explore its vast courtyards, ornate chambers, and tranquil gardens, gaining insight into the lives of emperors, empresses, and courtiers behind the imposing red walls. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit one of Beijing’s remaining hutongs – traditional narrow alleys dating back to the Yuan dynasty – to experience authentic old Beijing life and see traditional courtyard homes. We also visit the Buddhist Miaoying Temple, known for its iconic White Stupa completed in 1279 under Kublai Khan. Return to the hotel for an overnight stay in Beijing.

After breakfast, we drive to the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall, known as the Yellow Flower Wall. This area is celebrated for its scenic beauty and offers a gentle hike along one of China’s most iconic landmarks. Flanked by two lakes created by dams in the 1970s and ’90s, the wall here descends dramatically into the water, providing striking, unobstructed views. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we explore the 798 Art District, a vibrant hub of contemporary art and culture housed in a former East German industrial complex from the 1950s. This area has been transformed by Chinese artists since the 1990s into a lively space featuring avant-garde galleries, innovative design, and trendy cafés. You will have time to discover the district at your own pace. We return to the hotel in Beijing for the night.

After breakfast, we visit the Temple of Heaven complex in southeast Beijing, built in the early 15th century for Ming and Qing emperors to worship the heavens and pray for a good harvest. The site features the square-shaped Palace of Abstinence, representing earth, and the circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and Circular Mound Altar, symbolising heaven. The surrounding park is a lively space where locals practise morning exercises such as dancing, fencing, flag-waving and Tai Chi. Lunch is at your own arrangement. Afterwards, we transfer to the train station for a second-class high-speed train to Harbin. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and driver and transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, we visit Saint Sofia Church, the largest Eastern Orthodox church in the Far East. Built by the Russians in 1907, it is a fine example of Neo-Byzantine architecture and now houses the Harbin Architecture Art Gallery, featuring thousands of photographs that document the city’s past, present and future. We then stroll along Central Street, known locally as Zhongyang Street, a pedestrian thoroughfare famed for its 71 European-style buildings showcasing Renaissance, Baroque, Art Nouveau, Russian and French influences. Later, we visit the Flood Monument and Stalin Park. The Flood Control Memorial Tower, located within Stalin Park opposite Central Street, commemorates the successful fight against the devastating 1957 flood. Stalin Park stretches 1,700 metres along the Songhua River and offers a pleasant setting with sculptures and flowers amid Russian-style buildings. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we explore Gogol Street, a historic area over 100 years old, notable for its Russian architecture including the Qiulin Food Company Building and St Alekseyev Church. Known as Harbin’s ‘pub street’, it comes alive in the evening with a unique charm and vibrant atmosphere. We return to the hotel for overnight in Harbin.

After breakfast, we drive to witness Harbin’s winter swimming—a local tradition dating back to the 1970s, where enthusiasts brave the icy waters of the frozen Songhua River. Next, we visit the Siberian Tiger Zoo near Sun Island, a dedicated sanctuary for Siberian tigers. Here, you can observe tigers in various enclosures, including the wild training and adult tiger areas, as well as white lions and young animals training together. The Science Exhibition Hall offers further insight into these magnificent creatures through specimens and displays. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we explore the Snow Sculpture Park on Sun Island, located on the north bank of the Songhua River. Each winter, this park hosts the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Fair, showcasing an impressive array of large-scale snow sculptures set against a backdrop of lakes, rockeries and gardens. As evening falls, prepare to experience the spectacular Ice and Snow World—the largest ice and snow amusement park globally. Here, you can admire stunning illuminated ice sculptures, enjoy artistic performances and take part in various snow and ice activities. After the visit, we return to the hotel for overnight in Harbin.

After breakfast, we set out for a full-day visit to Volga Manor, a Russian-themed country park located in Harbin’s southeastern suburbs. The park features expansive grasslands and forests, dotted with Russian-style buildings, including bridges and castles, alongside numerous European-style sculptures. Its authentic Russian architecture and scenic surroundings make it a popular spot for wedding photography. Situated on the banks of the Ashi River, the park is lush and green in spring and summer, while in winter, the snow-covered fields, trees, and rooftops create a striking atmosphere reminiscent of the outskirts of Moscow. You may choose to enjoy snow and ice activities here at your own expense. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. We return to the hotel in Harbin for the night.

After breakfast, we transfer to the train station for your high-speed train journey back to Beijing in second class. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your own pace. Overnight in Beijing.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some leisure time to relax or explore at your own pace before we transfer you to the airport for your flight home.