Spring Festival is a time of family reunion and catching up with friends. If you are staying in China and have the chance, the best thing for an expat to do is to stay with some Chinese friends to witness the most important festival of the year.

If you do not have that opportunity, worry not there are still plenty of things you can get up to over the holiday.

Beijing's public transport system stays open, as department stores, tourist destinations and other entertainment facilities.

You will find traveling in Beijing over the Spring Festival ever so smooth, as so many people will have left the city to head for their hometowns. It's a rare chance to see the city without the crowds.

The Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Great Wall will all remain open. But for something a little different, check out some of the places listed below.

Skiing and skating

Beijing's skiing resorts will remain open until the end of February, or early March, depending on the weather. The following three resorts are recommended:

Shijinglong Ski Resort

This resort's ski slopes face south, keeping skiers in the sunlight and out of the harsh winds. The resort lies 80 kilometers from Beijing. To get there: Drive from Madianqiao on the North Third Ring Road along the Badaling speedway turning off at the 19th exit to Yangqing, before driving in the direction of Longqingxia. 8:30am-5:30pm. 150 yuan for two hours. 6919-1617.

Nanshan Skiing

There are 11 slopes, including a wave slope, a mogul trail and motorcycle trails for children. The resort also has European-style villas with fireplaces. 62 kilometers from Beijing. To get there: Nanshan sits south of Miyun County, 62 kilometers from Wangheqiao. Drive along the Beijing-Chengde Expressway, get off at the 15th exit to Shunmi Lu and turn right. 8:30am-5:30pm. 150 yuan for two hours. 8909-1909.

Qiaobo Indoor Skiing Center

The center is ready for skiers all year round. The beginners' slope is 200-meter long and the intermediate and advanced level slopes are 300 meters long. Located in Shunyi District, it is half an hour's drive from Beijing. To get there: Jingshun Lu-Airport Expressway-Shunyi-Chaobaihe National Forest Park. 9:30am-10pm during weekdays. 10am-10pm on weekends. 230 yuan for two hours and 198 yuan for the night (6-10pm). 6941-1991.

Indoor ice rinks

Le Cool ice rink at the World Trade Center. This ice rink is on the second level of the underground shopping area. 30-50 yuan depending on when you go; 10 yuan to rent skates for 90 minutes, with a 300-yuan deposit. 6505-5776.

Champion Ice Rink at the New World Shopping Center. 25-38 yuan for 90 minutes depending on when you go. 6708-0055 ext 2869.

Ditan imitation ice rink inside Ditan Gymnasium. 10 yuan an hour. 6426-5144.
Ice rink at Xidan Cultural Square, 4th level underground. 25 to 35 yuan an hour. 6606-3283.

In full bloom

Most of Beijing's flowers will not bloom until the end of March and April, with the exception of plum blossoms. These beautiful flowers have already bloomed at the Wofo Temple inside Beijing Botanical Garden. The following two weeks are the best time to go and have a look.

Other parts of the garden itself are also worth visiting. There are plum blossoms, all the time, at the miniascape garden. Meanwhile, the garden's greenhouse will be holding an orchid exhibition during the festival.

Entry into the garden and the Wofo Temple costs five yuan each. The miniascape garden costs an extra five yuan. A visit of the greenhouse will cost you a further 50 yuan.
7am-5pm. 6259-1561 (Garden), 6259-1459 (Temple). Near the Fragrant Hills.

Hot spring & massage

Soak yourself in a steaming hot spring with your friends or lover, and experience complete relaxation at Beijing's hot spring resorts. These places use hot water several thousand meters below ground for bathing, swimming, and other water fun.

Tianlongyuan Hot Spring Resort

This place has a 2,000 square meters indoor public hot spring area, for water sports, swimming, and soaking in hot springs with treatment purposes. There is a teahouse, KTV bar, snack bar, Chinese restaurant, and foot and full body massage center as well as accommodation. Tue-Sun. West of Dengzhuangcun, Changping District. 300 meters to the west of Xiguan traffic isle of Changping, Exit 13C on Badaling Expressway. 8971-9898 Ext 1126. Chunhuiyuan Hot Spring Resorts

This place offers more than 600 rooms with their own hot spring facilities, as well as a public hot spring area, restaurants and a conference center. Yuzhuang, Gaoliying, Shunyi District. 6945-4433.