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Q: Any clever winter tips?
I think we should all share any winter tips that we have, because there must be so many ways to deal with the cold (for those up North) that are clever and hadn't been thought of.
For example, I only discovered those heat stickers that you can stick on your body last time when I went to Harbin for the ice festival, but I am definitely going to get some more, they are amazing! Especially when you stick them on your toes. And available in almost all convenience stores.
Go on holiday in the South... 
Sorry that is super useless.
You guys in the North have it good, they heat the buildings. Not down there, so when it's 0c outside, it's -2c inside. You remove your coat only when you go to bed and take your shower.
* Go running. Getting started is an ordeal, but it makes your warm for a few hours afterwards
* There are underwear that covers the whole legs, people says it's good (never wore those, as an homage to my Celtic ancestors)
* Try to keep your feet dry. I remove my shoes & socks when in my office, if I know that I won't go out. If the building is not heated, I seat on my feet.
* Put something to block air draft from under the entrance door.
* Heat spicy food.
Don't buy an electric heater off the street, it just might blow up.
be sure you brought enough clothes from your country. Clothes here don't last till they buy some really expensive ones.
stay inside the house..making sure all windows and doors are shut.its safe,cheap and saves u from spending . haha
Winter here in Foshan is 15°C on average, and last for not too long.
The worst is not the North but anywhere immediately located North or South of the Yangtze, there is no central heating and it also gets very cold, though not as cold as Beijing, but in the North you have central heating.
Winter actually feels worse in Shanghai, Chongqing or Chengdu than in Beijing for that very simple reason, the lack of central heating.
Wear the right gear. I live in a place that gets down to minus plenty. But even if it's -30 plus, I'm not cold. Because I have the right gear. A good coat is first and foremost. When the flat gets too hot (due to over-hot heating) windows must be opened. And that mix of cold outside air with the stuffy inside air can be invigorating.
When visiting a restaurant be sure to keep at least one beer out on the step at all times. Drink the one you've got quickly though so the one on the step doesn't freeze. Replace the one on the step as often as necessary.
Stop riding your bicycle as soon as the roads ice over, as to continue beyond that point is just far too dangerous.
Most of all, enjoy!
Buy a few rolls of the mega toilet paper. Stuff it in your window frames (cuts down the draft). You can buy the 3M window sealing kits too.
Using a small clothes dryer can dry your clothes, add moisture to the air and warm up a small room, too.
Try to keep bonfires in your living room to a minimum.
That's true I totally forgot it's worse in the south because of the lack of heating. Do you guys have electric heaters then? Or do you just wear everything?
I've also heard that typical Guangdong families will keep all the windows open all the time because it's good for you - is this true?!
And thanks Mr Sausage, I will wear clothes.
DrMonkey:
The electric heaters are often air-con units. They blow dry hot air, and they need a lot of power. No wall insulation, only water pipes are insulated. So those heaters are expensive to run :(
Here's some from me..
Behaviors: Keep doors and windows shut and seal them. Have a spare blanket on the bed and another on your sofa to throw over, and cuddle up to anything warm (person, pet, hot water bottle). Stay as active as possible, without getting to a sweat. Drink hot soup. Take your annual holiday somewhere warm if you can. Bring your (portable) cook-top into the living room, so that any heat (and steam) generated can help warm the space.
Clothing: Wear good quality thermals - all day and night. Wear a beanie if you can, fingerless woolen gloves, a scarf, and decent socks. Then cover these with heavier pants/top, and a shell jacket for outside.
Apartment upgrades: Get some heavy curtains for all windows. It can be any fabric, but the thicker the better, and seal the top with a pelmet or similar. Buy some gap-filler and fill ALL gaps and cracks (use the smoke from an incense stick to see where air is getting in or out) . Get rugs and mats to put onto any cold, hard floor surfaces - cold tiles will suck heat from feet even with socks on.
...Hope they help.
Here's some from me..
Behaviors: Keep doors and windows shut and seal them. Have a spare blanket on the bed and another on your sofa to throw over, and cuddle up to anything warm (person, pet, hot water bottle). Stay as active as possible, without getting to a sweat. Drink hot soup. Take your annual holiday somewhere warm if you can. Bring your (portable) cook-top into the living room, so that any heat (and steam) generated can help warm the space.
Clothing: Wear good quality thermals - all day and night. Wear a beanie if you can, fingerless woolen gloves, a scarf, and decent socks. Then cover these with heavier pants/top, and a shell jacket for outside.
Apartment upgrades: Get some heavy curtains for all windows. It can be any fabric, but the thicker the better, and seal the top with a pelmet or similar. Buy some gap-filler and fill ALL gaps and cracks (use the smoke from an incense stick to see where air is getting in or out) . Get rugs and mats to put onto any cold, hard floor surfaces - cold tiles will suck heat from feet even with socks on.
...Hope they help.
Put another duvet/quilt on top of your super hard mattress, then the sheet.
Then the normal duvet on top.
You'd be surprised how much of a difference it makes, that extra under-insulation really counts.
Love the plug in hot water bags too. Get two..one for the feet, one for the top bit..
But do watch them when charging them, as they can explode! 
Plus if you live in the South, remember it can be colder in your apartment than it is outside, such is the quality of insulation/ building quality...
Actual cold weather by my standards here in Shenzhen lasts for just a month or two. I choose not to invest in equipment that has little utility, takes up space for 10 months of the year, and needs to be lugged around when I move. I just need a few extra layers of clothes and I'm good.
