Asia catches the early winter chill

Winter’s arrival is sweeping across Asia, drawing travellers to destinations where early cold snaps and seasonal festivals are transforming landscapes into photogenic, frost-covered playgrounds.
In China, temperatures dipped earlier than usual with the arrival of Xiaoxue (Minor Snow) on November 22, signaling the start of harsher cold waves. Northeastern and northwestern regions such as Harbin in Heilongjiang and Altay in Xinjiang have quickly emerged as top winter getaways for domestic and international tourists, according to Chinese media reports.
Further west, Inner Mongolia has kicked off a five-month ice-and-snow tourism season, rolling out 159 cultural activities, 48 sporting events, and 45 themed travel routes. The ambitious programme forms part of China’s broader push to expand its fast-growing ice-and-snow economy, fuelled by rising demand for winter travel.
Southeast Asia is also leaning into the seasonal mood. In Vietnam, Sapa in Lào Cai province is preparing for a packed Winter Festival, aimed at drawing visitors to its mist-lined valleys and festive year-end atmosphere.
Meanwhile, in Thailand, winter’s arrival is already evident. The first hoar frost of the 2025 season appeared near the summit of Doi Inthanon, the country’s highest peak, on the morning of 24 November. Temperatures fell to 5°C, creating delicate crystal formations on grass and leaves, a rare tropical treat that delighted travellers who had gathered at dawn for both the chill and the sunrise.