Travel to China is possible all year round but some months are better than others. In January, unless you are heading south to Hainan where the climate is tropical, chances are you will meet with cold weather in most parts of China.
Top China destinations in January are Beijing and Harbin. Harbin in the north-eastern China is known for its ski resorts and the Ice and Snow Festival held annually from January to February. An increasing number of ski resorts have popped up around Beijing in the past few years, making Beijing a great winter destination if you are looking for an active holiday.
Bring winter clothes and a good wind and waterproof coat if you are going to northern China, central China with its milder climates will have less freezing temperatures but winters are still cold so windproof jackets and warm clothes are still necessary. If you want to escape the cold entirely, head down south to tropical Hainan island where you will still be able to go for a dip in the sea and enjoy a barefoot run along the beach.
If you're travelling to China in January and February, chances are you will experience the biggest festival and holiday of the year, the Spring Festival also known as Chinese New Year. Houses will be decorated with beautiful lanterns, lucky charms and auspicious symbols. Parades of revellers and lion dances line the streets of towns and villages with scores of firecrackers piercing the air. Chinese New Year is a two-week period in which many shops and businesses are closed. Bear in mind that train and bus schedules are affected too.