A List of Travel Ideas for China Travel During Chinese New Year

If you'll be spending the Chinese New Year holidays in any of China's big cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Chengdu, etc.), and you want to go to a fancy do, then check local listings in English publications for parties and dinners. Most big international five-star chains and many stylish restaurants will have New Year's Eve dinners with set-menus planned. You can book a table at any of these with ease and enjoy a festive dinner that will likely include a lot of courses.

Many boutique hotels, especially those that operate outside China's big cities have unique offerings during Chinese New Year. Many bring in local customs and culture, offer guests a cozy atmosphere in which to enjoy the traditions and may include folk performances or other activities.

Here are a few properties that offer special New Year activities. Check directly with them to see what's on offer this year.

• The Schoolhouse (Great Wall / Beijing)
• The Linden Centre (Yunnan Province)
• Le Passage Moganshan (Zhejiang Province)
• Yangshuo Mountain Retreat (Guangxi Zhuang AR)
• Fairmont Yangcheng Lake (Jiangsu Province)

Book a trip to a less populated part of China. No, I'm not joking. There are parts of China, especially in the west, where open space and big sky are ubiquitous, where villagers herd sheep up the mountainside and Tibetan nomads roam the grasslands with their livestock.

Here are some ideas:

• Xizhou, Yunnan Province
• Journey to Qinghai Lake
• Four Days in Gansu

*The quote was originally "Go west, young man." Attributed to Horace Greeley, an American author.

If you want to be in China but you seek sun and sea, then you can consider going to China's Hainan Island. Located in the South China Sea, the island has a host of beach resorts and seaside entertainment.

Yalong Bay, Hainan Island

If you're going to be in China during the winter holidays, why not embrace the cold? Head up to Heilongjiang Province and try to catch the Harbin Ice & Snow Festival. The festival usually begins in early January and goes through early February. Sometimes this overlaps with Chinese New Year, but regardless, you'll be able to see the snow and ice sculptures even after the festival is over. And it will still be cold. I promise.

If you just want winter fun, check out any of China's ski resorts. A relatively new sport to take hold in China, the ski slopes are being developed more and more and it's becoming a popular place to ski.

• Harbin Ice & Snow Festival
• Harbin City Profile
• Harbin Ice & Snow Festival Photo Gallery
• China Ski Resorts

When in doubt, get in touch with a travel agency. You can have them book everything from inbound flights and a day-by-day itinerary, or just contact a professional to get some advice and ask questions. I've had really very good luck with all the agencies I list below. They are professional, willing to help and great with families.

• China Odyssey Tours
• Tibetan Connections
• China Discovery Tours
• WildChina