Polar magic

Many Chinese tourists choose to travel to the South Pole to enjoy a different vacation. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The best time to visit the polar area is from November to March, when it is summertime in the Antarctic, and most passenger liners are setting sail during that period, according to Yang.

"Many Chinese tourists will choose to go during the Spring Festival holidays to enjoy a different vacation, and some of them will even get married or celebrate a wedding anniversary or birthday there," says Yang.

Guests can enjoy skiing, hiking on snow-clad mountains and even swimming at the polar area during summertime, according to Du Yuechao, a senior tour guide with HHtravel who has been to the Antarctic twice.

"Penguins will gather at the polar area for breeding during the summer, and the scenery is spectacular, while the polar day phenomenon is also a special treat," says Du. The South Pole can experience daylight for up to 21 hours in summer there. Unfortunately, the Aurora Australis (or Southern Lights) can only be seen in the winter, so visitors will miss that spectacle.

For those who have an adventurous bone in their body, going through the Drake Passage from Argentina's Ushuaia to the polar area will give them a good taste of the force of nature.

Wind force is usually above 6 (the Beaufort scale goes to 12, which is hurricane force) at the passage, and it usually takes approximately two days to get across the passage, according to Du.

"I experienced a wind force of level 11 and saw a wave more than 7 meters high," says Du.