A man stands outside a shop selling ethnic Mongolian products in Arxan, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Saturday. Photo: Xiang Jiaao/GT

Major cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai, have been offering 144-hour visa-free transit to international travelers since December of 2017. For travelers who are considering a wintertime trip to China, a visit to the country's north is a must for your itinerary. A plethora of winter-oriented festivals will ensure your experience is not soon forgotten.   

The landscape of the far northeastern corner of China is truly surreal. The river Arxan continues to flows even at -30 C due to the abundant geothermal energy stemming from local volcanic activity. The locals here like to call it the Unfrozen River. The spectacular river is located in the city of Arxan, which lies along the Sino-Mongolian border in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. 

It's a four-hour journey from Beijing to Arxan by air, and if you get on board from Shanghai, it will take around six hours. A round trip costs about 1,000-2,000 yuan ($142-285), depending on your place of departure. 

Arxan means "hot holy water" in Mongolian. Besides hot springs, the city is rich in mineral resources. With a sparse population of just around 60,000 residents, Arxan stands tall with its majestic grandeur.  

Free from cars, the city is an unspoiled haven filled with priceless clean air and hot springs. The tourism industry is booming. Arxan received about 4,005,300 tourists this year, 17 percent year-on-year increase. 

The 14th China Arxan International Regimen Ice and Snow Festival kicked off in the city on Saturyday. Running well into next year, more than 30 different exhilarating activities are being held during the festival, including extreme snow sports, snow soccer, local food festivals and art exhibitions. 

Day One: 

For your first day, you can explore the Arxan National Forest Park. One ticket (140 yuan off-season) gives you access to the seven main spots in the park, including Terme Mountain and Darbin Lake. Traveling around you will see some beautiful natural formations created by cooling lava during volcanic eruptions. 

You can enjoy lunch in a small town called Chaihe near the northern entrance to the park. Authentic Mongolian and Russian delicacies are served here. Lamb, beef and pork are abundant and the famous Mongolian milk tea is quite tasty. 

A several-minute drive away is a natural oxygen bar, Arxan Mountain, surrounded by a lake and wetlands. 

When looking for places to stay, take your budget into consideration. There are two main options: The first one is my preferred choice, the Haishen Hot Spring Hotel. Priced at $42 per night, this grand hotel is at a great location, offers scenic sights, a recreational area, a restaurant and is a great place for a secluded stroll. The other one is the Hejia Hotel in Chaihe town. It is cheaper than the first hotel, costing $18 a night. A string of local eateries can be found nearby.

Day Two: 

If you get up early enough you will be able to savor the magnificent sunrise at White Wolf Peak around 7 am. Residents believe, as you climb to the peak of White Wolf, the landscape looks like a wolf howling toward the sky, which is why the county is named White Wolf. The place is special for its unique geographical features such as high mountains, a deep canyon and intricate rime ice formations.  

As you stride through the rime, it feels like you are exploring your very own soul. The serene frozen landscape also makes for the perfect photo. 

After a walk outside, you can then experience the traditional Mongolian aobao ceremony. Aobao are heaps of stones that act as altars of sorts. During the ceremony, mutton, fermented milk and other foods are presented at the aobao, while people pray and a lama chants Buddhist scriptures. 

Day Three: 

As a region laded with snow, skiing is naturally a major sport. Unlike ski resorts further south, the resorts in the region are covered with thick layers of natural snow. There are two skiing resorts: the West Mountain Ski Resort and the East Mountain Ski Playground. The East Mountain resort has beginner through expert level slopes. 

After building up a thirst skiing, it is time to try the pure mineral water from the Wuli Springs. If you want to go shopping and buy some souvenirs for your family, Inner Mongolia cheese, Mongolian Knife, and Arxan black fungus are great picks.