The winter season brings low temps and many chills to the people of Beijing. For those of you who are non-natives, surviving the Beijing winter requires some knowledge of how best to stay warm indoors and outdoors. Below are some important tips to stay warm this winter season.

Staying Warm Outside

Wear an under-layer. This is a layer of clothing that goes underneath your normal clothing. Examples include thermals (long underwear), stockings, leggings and undershirts. Consider using thin but warm fabrics because you don’t want to sweat when you’re in the warm indoors.

Wear a waterproof layer. Beijing winters are very dry and precipitation is limited to rare snowfall. But when it does snow, make sure to wear a waterproof layer to prevent the snow from penetrating your inside layers.

Wear a heat-retaining layer. Fleece may very well be your best friend in the winter. This is the type of material that acts well at insulating. Other alternatives to fleece include wool, down, fur, leather and neoprene.

Protect your extremities. Wear boots and thick socks to keep your feet warm and dry. Protect your face with a hat and a scarf while gloves and hand warmers will do the trick for your hands. Keep in mind to use waterproof items, because moisture will make you miserable. Look for lined leather gloves if you can.

Wear right-sized clothing. For chilly temperatures, don’t go for form over fashion. You can still attempt to look fashionable, but remember that loose-fitting clothing provides more coverage to keep you warm. Loose-fitting clothes provide a protective layer of warm air between your skin and the environment.

Staying Warm Inside

Layer your clothing. You want to dress in layers because you will be able to shed layers when you’re in the warm indoors. This lets you adjust for warm temps inside and frigid temps outside. This allows you to adjust to whatever temps you are experiencing, especially if your building isn’t uniformly heated in every room.