Chasing the Sun: The Best Short-Haul Winter Getaways from Beijing

There are plenty of things to love about winter in Beijing – ice skating on Houhai, a glass of mulled wine after a stroll in the hutongs, shopping for thermal underwear in Uniqlo – but there’s no denying that the sub-zero temperatures and bone-chilling winds can wear you down. While Beijing isn’t as well positioned for short hops around Southeast Asia as, say, Guangzhou, luckily there are still plenty of destinations within an easy four to five hour direct flight that afford a sunny getaway.

November and December can be tricky months to travel in Southeast Asia. Towards the beginning of November, many cheap and cheerful destinations will experience their final month of monsoon rain. December is better, although note that this is considered high season for many Asian destinations, so prices are higher.

Hong Kong
A summer trip to Hong Kong may feel like vacationing in a sauna, but wait until a little later in the year and you will be rewarded with low humidity and temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius, the perfect weather for exploring the Fragrant Harbor’s many hiking trails. Increasing competition between airlines has also driven down the price of flights from Beijing to Hong Kong, meaning you can pick up a round trip return flight for as little as RMB 1,200.

Do: Annual Hong Kong music and arts festival Clockenflap takes place this year on November 25-27. With the likes of Crystal Castles and The Chemical Brothers headlining, this festival always delivers. Three-day weekend tickets are priced from HKD 1,620.

Stay: Business boutique hotel chain Ovolo offers tiny rooms that make up for their size with big freebies – from laundry facilities to daily all-you-can-drink happy hour. Try their Noho (that’s north of Hollywood Road to you and me) branch, just around the corner from the bars and restaurants of Soho.

Eat: In Hong Kong, more often than not the question is: where not to eat? Try a hot new opening such as French-Vietnamese bistro Le Garçon Saïgon or stick with a classic such as dim sum favorite Lin Heung Teahouse.

Chiang Mai
The cosmopolitan northern Thai city of Chiang Mai offers a little of something for everyone, from working temples to lush hiking trails to a vibrant contemporary art scene. The downtown area is easily navigable my foot and, despite being a popular tourist destination, still offers a respite from smoggy, traffic-clogged Beijing. Air China flies directly to Chiang Mai from Beijing three times a week.

Do: Once you’ve seen your fill of Chiang Mai’s 300 or so temples, take a break at one of the city’s many excellent cooking classes. Thai Farm Cooking School is set on an organic farm outside of the city center. Pick your own ingredients and use them to make classic Thai dishes.

Stay: The elegant, colonial 137 Pillars House has 30 suites named after the founders of the East Borneo Trading Co. Naturally this kind of understated luxury doesn’t come cheap. At the other end of the spectrum, popular backpacker spot Diva Guesthouse offers double rooms from around USD 8.

Eat: Thanks to the region’s relatively isolated geography, northern Thai cuisine is distinct from that of the rest of Thailand, identified by its pungent, sour flavors. A classic northern Thai dish is laab, a fiery salad of minced meat.

Da Nang (pictured at the top)
Just a four-hour flight away from Beijing, Da Nang is the ideal destination for a short beach break from Beijing. The third largest city in Vietnam, its white sandy beaches are among the nicest in the country (although watch out for jellyfish in the sea). November marks the tail-end of the rainy season in Da Nang, but you will find this brings pleasant temperatures for sightseeing. China Eastern flies direct to Da Nang from Beijing three times per week.

Do: Pay a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Hoi An, a short 30-minute drive down the coast from Da Nang proper. While touristy, the old town offers a fascinating look at the influence of the Chinese diaspora in Vietnam.

Stay: Book a weekend at uber luxurious Intercontinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula and you may not feel like leaving. Ever. Spread across a lush hillside leading down to a private beach, the resort offers a spa, four food and beverage outlets, two swimming pools, and much more.

Eat: Learn about the cuisine of Da Nang and central Vietnam with a cooking class at Green Bamboo Cooking School. After being picked up from your hotel, you’ll be whisked off to a local market to shop for the ingredients to make the dish of your choice.

Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the main jumping off point for Angkor Archeological Park, home to the temple complexes of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon. The city itself is understandably touristy, yet is also home to world class wining and dining, and a thriving creative scene. Sky Angkor Air currently flies from Beijing to Siem Reap three times a week, although check the website for the up-to-date schedule (skyangkorair.com).

Do: Angkor Wat, obviously. Even if you are not an archeology buff, we recommend spending at least three days exploring the temples at Angkor, giving you time to fit in visits at different points of the day (sunrise being the most popular). You will need to purchase a pass to visit the area, which are available for one, three, and seven day durations.

Stay: Siem Reap has a glut of hotels to suit every budget, but if you’re only going for a short trip, make it count and splash out on a stay at Shinto Mani, a serene resort designed by acclaimed architect Bill Bensley. The resort is both gorgeous and socially conscious; they work with underprivileged youth to help them start a career in hospitality.

Eat: Fine dining restaurant Cuisine Wat Damnak serves remarkable Cambodian food, combining traditional flavors with French techniques. It is also the only restaurant in Cambodia with a place on the San Pellegrino Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

This article first appeared in our November/December magazine. To read the entire issue online, please click here.

More stories by this author here.

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Photos: Wikicommons