THE Spring Festival break is just around the corner, with Chinese New Year next Sunday. While the routine for many people is to spend the holiday "eating or on the way to eat" or "crashed on the couch all day," why not choose another option for welcoming the Year of the Snake? Perhaps indulge in a spot of retail therapy; or explore China's different cultures; visit a winter wonderland; or just laze on the beach. Shanghai Daily has come up with some shopping, folk culture and leisure options. Whether you're a travel fan, a shutterbug or just want to add to your wardrobe, you're sure to find something to suit you.

Festival Getaways

Spring to the shops

Shanghai - hidden gems

Shopping in Shanghai over the holiday can be a surprisingly relaxed experience, for at least one third of the city's population has left for the break. So it's the ideal time to go on the trail of some stylish purchases, whether down quiet streets or in newly opened malls.

Movous Collection

Shaoxing Road is a very short and quiet road between Ruijin Road and Maoming Road with high-end old-style villas, beautiful French phoenix trees and popular cafes and restaurants.

Zhou Lanfan, a local fashion designer widely known as Saya, opened her bespoke fashion store Movous in a three-story house there, with her partner Xie Anyuan (Ang), also a local designer.

Specialties include party and wedding dresses, though Zhou promises, "we'll design and make whatever you want."

The luxury fitting room is decorated in a homey style, with a large mirror, crystal lighting, a velour sofa and cushions. And the coffee shop on the second floor provides a space for a break from shopping exertions.

Address: 23 Shaoxing Rd

BLK

BLK MARKET is a multi-brand trader showcasing collections from top European and American designers, including Donald Pliner and Charles David. While the clothes and footwear come in many hues, BLK - like the color - aims to evoke mystery and glamor.

Address: B115-116, B1, Réel Shanghai Department Store, 1601 Nanjing Rd W.

Donna

While not as famous as trendy Changle Road or Xinle Road, Nanchang Road, located behind main thoroughfare Huaihai Road M., is home to many fashion buyer stores offering trendy goods at reasonable prices.

Donna is a fashion buyer's store that opened six years ago. It features dresses, handbags, sunglasses and other accessories, which owner and buyer Jiang Wei imports from European cities and Hong Kong. He travels and collects items almost every month. There you can find the latest items, plus luxury brands at reasonable prices.

Address: 183D Nanchang Rd

Caster Wear

Local indie design brand Caster Wear has four stores in Shanghai, carrying trendy and casual sportswears. The brand was created by China's first street dance group, Caster Crew, and local famous MC Shi Zhizhong (widely known as KK).

Address: 188 Dongjiangwan Rd; 5/F, 166 Xizang Rd N.; 3/F, 101 Wuning Rd; B2, 988 Quxi Rd

Xiamen, Fujian - coastal chic

Xiamen, a coastal city in Fujian Province in southeast China, is renowned as one of China's most desirable living spots. As well as beautiful scenery, cultural sites and hot springs, Xiamen offers shopping in all shapes and sizes: from big stores to exquisite boutiques; high-end to high street; souvenirs to local snacks.

Zhongshan Road

The city's traditional high street, Zhongshan Road is lined by hundreds of shops. Leading to the shore, the bustling street combines cafes with contemporary stalls, bookshops, amid architecture that combines southeast Asian and European characteristics. Parts have a vintage feel, with pastel colors, peeling walls and archaic wooden windows rendering a special charm.

Zhongshan Road is also among the best places in Xiamen to find local snacks such as baked squid, peanut soup, satay noodles, perfect for refueling after an afternoon's retail therapy or just eat while shopping. Local specialties - including desserts, dried seafood and other snacks - can be bought from China's time-honoured brand Wuzaitian and Huangzehe as souvenirs of a New year break.

Gulangyu Island

Exploring frenetic bazaars or getting lost in the labyrinth of tiny lanes on romantic Gulangyu Island, off the coast of Xiamen, is real delight. Its wonderfully whimsical vibe - old and modern, refined and kitschy, chaotic and graceful - makes for a great shopping experience. Entrepreneurs, foodies, artists and other creatives have helped develop the island as a must-visit spot.

Open 10 years, FEN remains popular for interiors and gifts. Pieces include antique wood, vintage style and minimalist design. (77, Longtou Rd; 28-6 Huangyan Rd)

Nora & Piano is a tiny shop opposite Gulangyu Concert Hall, filled with cute and quirky items. This is the place to stock up on cartoon-cute giraffes, smiling rabbits and kitten couples. Figurines, postcards and other goods are well spaced out, placed alongside retro items. Together they creates an eccentric and vibrant collection that sees many visitors reach for their cameras on entering the store. (20 Huangyan Rd)

Hangzhou, Zhejiang - sheer delight

Shanghai's neighboring city Hangzhou is growing from a cultural gem into a top shopping destination as well, attracting fashion fans with both modern and traditional takes on its renowned silk industry craftsmanship.

Silk Street

Buying a silk souvenir is a must for visitors to Hangzhou, the city renowned for its silk industry. Appropriately enough, Silk Street (253 Xinhua Rd), with its hundreds of silk stores, is an ideal place to find a bargain.

Located between Fengqi Road in the south and Tiyuchang Road in the north, it is a popular destination with visitors since 1987. Stretching more than 800 meters and covering about 25,000 square meters, it is one of the biggest wholesale silk markets in China. Around 600 silk companies are located here.

Festival Getaways

Folk culture quests

Yuanyang, Yunnan - Photographer's paradise

Yuanyang is a must-go place for photography fans, especially during the Spring Festival, where the terrace field landscape and warm weather are big attractions. Sometimes, it seems that every domestic landscape photography competition features shots of Yuanyang's terrace field.

Sunrise and sunset are best times to take photographs in Yuanyang, with soft light and cloud making your work look like traditional Chinese paintings.

The most popular sites include Duoyishu, Bada village and Longshu Dam site. There are no buses to the sites, so you should hire a car or travel by taxi.

Trekking is another popular choice in Yuanyang - and ideal for getting great photographs too. Guest house managers will advise you trekking routes and sometimes provide detailed maps. For a fee, many will act as a guide.

It takes several hours from Yunnan's capital Kunming to Yuanyang. But you can stop by Jianshui Town almost halfway and explore the ancient town dating back 700 years to the Ming Dynasty. There you can visit the biggest Confucian temple in south China and sample tofu made with water from a local well.

Kaili, Guizhou - where cultures meet

Kaili is a natural destination for meeting some of China's minority people in the southeast of Guizhou Province. Though visitors face relatively tough living conditions and unpaved roads, they will be rewarded with surprises, such as the sight of local women in colorful dresses and spectacular silver jewelry, together with dances and ceremonies unique to the area.

As well as home to the Miao ethnic group, Kaili is also a good starting point for exploring minority villages in southeast of Guizhou, like pearls in a line. Nearby settlements include Langde Miao Minority Village, where people live in the unique diaojiaolou, which are normally two-floor houses with only the second floor occupied by people.

The most visited village is Xijiang Miao Minority Village, where attractions include the house of the village head - the "King of the Miao" - and dance performances. The villages of Rongjiang and Basha are also worth a visit, as they are home to other minority groups, including Tong people. But the road conditions are really tough - a SUV is a must.

But visitors who do make the trip will be rewarded with a special welcoming ceremony from the hospitable people, featuring welcoming wine and dancing. During the Spring Festival, more local festivals are held.

Yulin, Shaanxi - beautiful (and friendly) people

It's a good idea to visit northern Shaanxi if you want to avoid the crowds in Xi'an, the province's capital.

The city you should not miss in the region is Yulin, where you can find a lake, red stone cliffs and even a piece of the Great Wall in Zhen Bei Tai - "Pacify the North" Tower - complete with Ming Dynasty relics.

Yulin, with an airport and better accommodation, is a good launch pad for exploring north Shaanxi, including two tiny but beautiful towns, Mizhi and Suide.

There's a saying, "Ladies in Mizhi and men in Suide," referring to the belief that the former is home to many beautiful women, and the latter has more than its fair share of handsome men. Appropriately, Mizhi is also believed to be hometown of Diao Chan, one of four legendary beauties in Chinese history.

For art and history lovers, Suide is also home to a museum featuring artwork created during the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago. There's also a well-known bridge in the town decorated with statues of stone lions.

Last but not at least, be ready for chatting with locals. They are renowned for their warmth and friendliness, and many will be keen to share with you their life - whether xintianyou, special songs in Shaanxi style, or huangmomo, a delicious local food made of flour and jujube.

Festival Getaways

Leisure principle

Xi'an, Shaanxi- hot spring fit for an emperor

There are almost too many reasons to visit Xi'an: the historic city; the terra cotta warriors; the mouth-watering food … But this time, why not do something a bit different and choose Xi'an as your destination for a relaxed hot spring tour?

Shaanxi Province is home to hot springs with a long history. Bai Juyi, the famous Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), refers to one in his famous work "Song of Everlasting Regret," the legendary story of Emperor Xuan Zong (Tang Ming Huang) and his beloved Yang Guifei.

On a cold spring day, he bestowed upon her the honor of bathing with him at the Huaqingchi.

The water of the hot springs were smooth, and washed over her pale white skin.

These word of the poet for more than a 1,000 years ago illustrate the regard with which royals held these waters in Huaqingchi, Lintong District, 30 kilometers east of Xi'an urban area.

Historic records show that from Qin (221-206 BC) to the Tang Dynasty, Huaqingchi was a popular place with emperors. Now, visitors can have a glimpse of the royal life of leisure and bathe in the waters where emperors once took a dip.

Beihai, Guangxi - a shore thing

If you are looking for a beach resort during the Spring Festival but want to avoid the crowds and high prices of tropical island province Hainan, Beihai City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is a good option for a short break.

With 24 kilometers of white sand stretching along the north coast of Beihai, Yintan Beach is hard to resist.

So slow down and forget your hectic urban life; enjoy some laid-back sunbathing to the hypnotic sound of murmuring waves.

Boat trips are available from Beihai to nearby Weizhou Island, China's largest but youngest volcanic island. Many visitors are drawn by its exotic lava landscapes shaped by the waves. It's fun to explore either on foot or by bicycle - and of course try to chase the sun set. Newly married couples often have their wedding photographs taken on the island.

Weizhou Island is also home to abundant seafood, including crabs, sea urchins, whelks, sea cucumber and abalone. Local restaurants will cook your catch for you, for a small fee.

If time permits, take a walk along Beihai's Old Street, featuring 15 or so Western architecture styles dating back to the 1900s, and experience a piece of old-time island life.

Huangshan Mountain, Anhui- the height of relaxation

Yellow Mountain, often referred to as "the most fantastic mountain under heaven," is a popular destination all year round. It is especially loved by Shanghainese due to its convenient location. The drive from Shanghai to the natural beauty in southern Anhui Province takes five to six hours. Climbing Huangshan during winter is a tough prospect, and is probably best left until warmer months. But the mountain also offers a gentler option: the hot spring.

This is one of the biggest attractions of the Yellow Mountain, along with its pine trees, rocks and clouds. Located at the south entrance to Huangshan, it provides a perfect combination of sightseeing and relaxing water treatment.

Soaking in a 42 degree Celsius pool while taking in the mountain vista offers a relaxing contrast to the big city. Although winter is off-season for visiting Yellow Mountain, it is said that at this time of year it looks most beautiful; the snowy landscape adding to the tranquility of the famous scenery.

Yellow Mountain hot spring has a long history and is well developed today; you can easily find different types of hotels around it. There is another hot spring area located in Tunxi City, about 50 km from the scenic region, which is quieter.

Harbin, Heilongjiang - "Ice City" cool

If you fancy a winter break in northeast China, Harbin is a great option - though be prepared for freezing cold wind coming all the way from Siberia.

Capital of Heilongjiang Province, "Ice City" Harbin is renowned for its winter beauty. The average temperature during the coldest months is around minus 20 degree Celsius, so don't forget a down jackets, thick gloves and a winter hat to shield you from bitter cold. However, once indoors, there are no such worries as buildings have central heating as standard.

Each year, visitors come here in winter for the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, which dates back to 1985. Ice and snow sculptures are the main attractions, and Harbin has two major exhibition parks for ice artworks.

One is Sun Island, a top-rated recreational area on the opposite side of the Songhua River from the downtown city. The other is the Ice and Snow World, a theme park that only opens in winter and is famous for its night scenes. Both are within half an hour's drive from landmark Central Street. And an ice lantern exhibition in downtown Zhaolin Garden, first held in 1963, is also a good place to go, especially for kids.

Or you can simply go to the frozen Songhua River, where many people go skating or tobogganing. Huts with heaters are all round so that you can rest if you feel cold and tired. But be warned that it turns extremely cold after sunset.

While the cold beauty of Harbin is enchanting, don't forget to visit neighboring Yabuli. Yabuli Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in China, with the biggest ski jump facilities in Asia. It takes about five hours by bus drive or three hours by train from Harbin to Yabuli. You are advised to book a hotel in advance, and coaches are available for rookies. There are different ski slopes for different levels of skills.