Time to plan a spring break trip in China with us!
Spring in China brings the glorious sight of mountains and parks bursting with beautiful blossoms under clear blue skies, and perhaps the odd shower. However, a short break in China is perfect for your family to soak up the spring sunshine. Come rain or shine, there are always things to do in spring; enjoy a romantic getaway to an idyllic retreat surrounded by blossoming trees, try your hand at making your own porcelain or dyeing cloth, enjoy cycling through the countryside and take a break to enjoy a local dish.
Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province – Most picturesque counties in China
There are many words you can use to describe Wuyuan – scenic, picturesque, utterly There are many words to describe Wuyuan – scenic, picturesque, absolutely beautiful. Due to its remote location, Wuyuan has been able to preserve its natural environment, traditional lifestyle, ancient customs and typical Hui architecture for decades. It’s always possible to enjoy different landscapes in every season, but if you ask us when is the best time to visit, our answer would be: RIGHT NOW. Only in the spring can you see birds and fields of golden rapeseed flowers. You have to go for a walk in Huangling Village. A unique feature of this village is the sun-dried crops called “Shai Qiu”. This picturesque scenery is a wonderful place where you can choose one of the inns for a few days and enjoy the tranquillity of the area. While the village of Wolong is famous for its virgin forests and waterfalls, you can also enjoy the fresh air while hiking. Cycling through the golden fields of rapeseed surrounded by mountains is the best way to experience local life.
Moganshan, Zhejiang Province – Ideal bolt-hole near Shanghai
Moganshan is famous for its scenic vistas, wooded views and towering bamboo and stone villa architecture. It was developed as a hilltop resort by 19th century Europeans living in Shanghai. Largely abandoned in the second half of the last century, it is now experiencing a new flurry of activity and construction. The lush pine and bamboo forests and natural rock formations of Moganshan National Park are popular with hikers. The area offers wonderful walks in the fresh air on Chinese-style paved footpaths and stairs that cut through the vegetation. You can also walk to a waterfall and a pond called Sword Pond. You can walk around and look at the stone houses and villas. If you like adventure, this is the place for you! It’s an adventure park associated with the Discovery Channel in partnership with the venture capital group APAX. It’s an outdoor survival/adventure camp. For young children, there is a family-friendly Yiyuan Organic Farm where you can interact with the animals. All the food is made from natural organic ingredients picked directly from the farm.
Yangtze River- Aboard the Yangtze River cruise
The Yangtze River is the third longest river in the world, stretching nearly 4,000 miles from Shanghai through China’s heartland. Sometimes called the “Yellow River”, the Yangtze is China’s lifeline. If you want to spend three or four days relaxing and enjoying the watery scenery, then a Yangtze River Cruise could be just the thing for you! The route runs between Yichang and Chongqing and includes highlights such as the Three Gorges Dam and the ghost town of Fengdu. Your cruise departs from Yichang for the first stop at the Three Gorges Dam. The dam project, along with the astonishing five-step ship lock, is an extraordinary feat of engineering and the largest hydroelectric resource in the world. The Three Gorges themselves are another scenic highlight of the journey. Between the gorges, you will also take a cruise on the Shennong Stream, a beautiful tributary that will take you past riverside villages and ‘hanging’ wooden coffins resting on buttresses wedged into the cliff face – a precarious burial site believed to have been used by the Bo people.
Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province – China’s canal life
The water town of Wuzhen is famous for its pretty whitewashed houses, arched stone bridges and bustling canal-side streets. The people of these water towns still live by the water, using the Yangzi’s tributaries and man-made canals for washing clothes, catching food and transport. Spring is the best time to visit, when the foliage is colourful and the air is cool. The area is divided into two parts. The eastern part is more commercialised and crowded, while the western part is more peaceful and elegant. The city has narrow streets and alleys, boat rides on the waterways and cultural landmarks such as the Hundred Beds Museum and the Indigo Fabric Workshop. Indigo dyeing has been around since the Zhou Dynasty, and colour printing was popular during the Six Dynasties (317 – 589) and used in the palace during the Sui Dynasty. Remember to book in advance to make your own indigo-dyed souvenir.
Yanqing District, Beijing – Full Immersion in flowers and nature
Just an hour’s drive from the hustle and bustle of Beijing. Yanqing District is a stunning place to get away from the city and enjoy nature. Countryside walks, picturesque villages and beautiful flowers make this a popular destination for a mini-break from Beijing. In Longqing Gorge, you can try extreme sports such as bungee jumping, rock climbing and abseiling. Or enjoy a 7km cruise through the microcosm of the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River. Also, in mid-April, the cable car area is full of peach blossoms. Mount Haituo is the place to camp or have a picnic. There is a flat area on the top of the mountain where you can pitch your tent. During your hike you can enjoy the breathtaking mountain views, lush forest and vast grasslands. If you have young children, the Lakeside Railway, Bike Park and Ranches are great places for your family to spend some quality time together.
Yellow Mountain, Anhui Province – Mountain of Chinese ink painting
When you hear “Yellow Mountain”, you might imagine yourself hiking in the beautiful nature of China, but did you know that there are more experiences than just hiking in Yellow Mountain? You can pluck tea and learn more about how Huangshan Maofeng tea is harvested and processed. The Huizhou Cake Museum not only shows you the importance of recording events by making different cakes, dimsum and snacks at different times in people’s lives, but you can also come and learn to make your own dimsum. The people of Lingshan Village have a deep connection with the bamboo forest. The locals will weave bamboo baskets, bamboo hats, dustpans and exquisite bamboo baskets. You can learn more about the local lifestyle and how to weave bamboo yourself. A stroll through Hongcun Village is a must, surrounded by mountains with white walls and grey tiles, it is the best place to take some amazing pictures.
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province – Home of China’s porcelain
Why not spend your spring break in Jingdezhen? The name is synonymous with ‘porcelain city’. In the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, kaolin clay was added to the more glassy porcelain stone. The wares were fired in reduction, which produced a special bluish hue. You can spend 2-3 days in Jingdezhen. You can learn about Chinese porcelain in the town centre before heading to the nearby Ancient Town for a deeper understanding of the porcelain advances made by the local people. Prepare to get your hands dirty at the Ancient Kiln Folk Customs Museum. This is a museum for all ages. Not only can you delve deep into the history of Chinese porcelain, but you can also help yourself by throwing kaolin clay into the pot and then painting it after it has been fired. After you have finished your porcelain, explore the ancient access road and large open-cast mining sites along the trail in Gaoling National Minin Park.
Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province – Incredible “AVATAR” world
Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province was famously used as the inspiration for the stunning landscapes in James Cameron’s science fiction blockbuster Avatar. Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area is a scenic area with 3,000 sandstone pillars, 800 streams, 40 caves and countless macaques. Taimen Mountain and Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon are the other two famous attractions near Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which takes about 30 to 40 minutes by car. You can take the 326 metre high Bailong Elevator, which takes only 88 seconds to reach the top of Yuanjiajie, which is the most popular and famous spot among others. While The Glass Bridge is the highlight of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, being the longest (430m) and highest (300m) pedestrian glass bridge in the world.
Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region – A place for the whole family
Spring is the best time to visit Guilin as the weather is cool with sunny days. The most impressive view of spring flowers in the region must be the Cole Flowers in the villages near Guilin and Yangshuo. The yellow and white Cole Flowers cover the lush green land from the riverside to the foot of the variously shaped limestone hills. As well as the flowers, discovering the amazing agricultural scenes is a must in spring during the irrigation season of the rice terraces in Longsheng. Every year between the end of April and the beginning of May, the terraced rice fields are filled with water, transforming the whole mountain area into a dreamlike world.
Yunnan – Mix of the nation and splendor of landscapes
April is the golden season for travelling in Yunnan, with suitable weather and wonderful flora and fauna. There are two mountains you must add to your itinerary when visiting Yunnan. One is the Meili Snow Mountains in Shangri-La. It is a holy pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists and you can see the sunrise over the Snow Mountain. The other is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, the southernmost glacier in the northern hemisphere. As you trek, you can enjoy different altitudes that create changing landscapes, with peaceful meadows giving way to snow-covered paths and glaciers. The ancient town of Lijiang, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is well known to people. You can find houses that combine elements of Han and Zang architecture and decoration in the arched gates, and even courtyards and carved roof beams that are representative of the Naxi culture. Jianshui Ancient Town in Kunming is less well known, but the Double Dragon Bridge and Tofu are the reasons you must visit this place. You’ll have the chance to learn how to make tofu from a local, who says it’s the most authentic Naxi dish.
Our private tours could be fully customizable based on your preference, such as hotel, tour itinerary, flight and train schedule, etc. Have not decided yet where to travel this spring break? Please feel free to chat with our travel consultants and tailor-make your special itinerary!
