Erhai Lake. [Photo by Xu Xiaomin / China Daily]

When to go: To beat the crowds, travel to Yunnan during the low season from December to March. Yunnan has a healthy population of private hostels which are clean and comfortable, just walk around and find one that is to your liking.

How to get there: Driving is a good way to see Yunnan as you can stop along the roads to take in the views instead of paying to enter scenic spots. Besides, Yunnan's less popular mountains and lakes are just as beautiful.

What to bring: Winter in Yunnan is relatively comfortable but bring along a windbreaker because the temperatures may dip at night. Deqin county where Meili Snow Mountain is located stands at an altitude of 3,600 meters. As such, some travelers might experience slight altitude sickness and headaches. It might be prudent to bring along some painkillers.

xuxiaomin@chinadaily.com.cn