The Best Time To Visit China
Planning a trip to China is an exciting adventure, but knowing the best time to visit can make all the difference. China's vast landscape and diverse climate mean that the perfect time to visit depends on your interests, the regions you plan to explore, and the type of experience you're seeking.
I know it isn’t always possible to plan your trip around the weather but in China it can make all the difference!
The Best Time to Visit China – The short answer
China is a year-round destination, but the best times to visit are generally during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). During these seasons, the weather is the most pleasant throughout the country, with moderate temperatures and fewer tourists compared to the summer months.
If you are planning on visiting a few different areas of China on your trip then travelling in these months will give you the best weather throughout the country and will make your trip the most enjoyable.
The Best Time to Visit China – The longer answer
Spring is ideal for seeing China’s beautiful landscapes, the flowers bloom into action throughout the country and everywhere is vibrant with new life.
Spring starts earlier in the south of China and works its way up the country. Flowers might start to bloom in late Feb in places like Yunnan but not hit Beijing until late March/April. Beijing has some amazing parks filled with cherry blossoms, people flock to these areas to take pictures amongst the flowers.
Most cities are lovely in the spring with some rain, warm(ish) days and cooler evenings.
Packing tips: Bring lots of layers, the weather can be somewhat unpredictable so better to have options. Pack for both colder and hotter days depending on where you will travel in China and don’t forget your umbrella or raincoat.
Summer is hot, humid and wet in most of the country. It is also the summer holidays so places are generally a lot busier. Southern China has tropical temperatures and so this is typhoon season here.
The humidity really hits you in the face in Southern China and it is not enjoyable to be outside in the heat when it is also super busy. China’s ‘furnace’ cities can reach temperatures up to 40C in summer, I would recommend avoiding these cities if you can!
Some of the hottest cities in China in the Summer are Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing, Nanchang, Changsha, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, and Xian.
The north of China is dryer but even cities like Beijing are pretty damn hot in the summer. If you want to avoid the heat I would head as north as you can or to more mountainous regions.
This is a great time to explore the Tibetan Plateau, Inner Mongolia, Western Sichuan, Gansu, and Heilongjiang without the snow.
Alternatively, lean into the heat and head to a more beach destination like Sanya but it is busy in the summer and could be quite wet depending on tropical storms.
Packing tips: Umbrella (can be used for the rain and for shade!), light clothing, mosquito spray, hat, sun tan lotion, sunglasses, fan.
Autumn, on the other hand, offers crisp air and stunning autumnal foliage, particularly in regions like the Great Wall and the Yangtze River. It is a big deal when the leaves change colour and much like in Spring people flock to these areas to take photos of the changing colours. You can experience it just fine in the cities but a trip into nature will really take your breath away.
There is quite a small window when the leaves change colour and opposite to spring it starts in the north and works its way down. So, by the time the leaves change in Beijing the Great Wall might already be bare.
The temperature starts to drop all around China but as you travel further south you can still find warm weather. In the north, you might need a jacket, especially in the evening but in the south, you could still be in a T-shirt and shorts.
Packing tips: Longer jackets, warm coats in the north. Jumpers and long-sleeved t-shirts. In the south layers that you can wear in the evening if the temperature drops.
Winter is obviously the coldest time to travel in China, and my gosh does it get cold. If you are travelling specifically for winter activities then the north is the place to be. Every year Harbin is home to the famous Ice and Snow Festival – creating an entire city made of ice. Temperatures here can reach as low as -30. You can go skiing in many places in the north and even rent all your equipment there.
Beijing has loads of activities to do in winter but make sure you pack appropriately with lots of thermals and layers. It might be cold outside but inside it is usually really hot so you will want layers to keep you comfortable.
As you move south the temperature isn’t as cold but it is quite damp so it feels like you are always permanently cold. Anyone from the UK will understand that damp cold that goes through your bones.
If you want to avoid the winter chill at all costs then head as south as possible. Guangdong region has a mild winter which feels more like spring or head to Hainan, although it won’t be warm enough to sunbathe.
Packing tips: Thick coat, fleece, thermals, woolly hat, scarf, gloves, hand warmers.
I’ve travelled quite extensively throughout the world and China is both the hottest and coldest country I have ever been to.
When to avoid travelling in China
Try to avoid travelling during national holidays in China, most of the country has this time off so travelling is incredibly busy and expensive.
Spring Festival (and Chinese New Year) – The date changes every year so make sure you check it out if you are travelling in January or February. This is quite a long period of celebration and usually lasts a couple of weeks.
Spring festival is an interesting time in China, the streets are usually decorated which is lovely to see. Most people who live in big cities go back to their hometown in this period so often places like Shanghai and Beijing aren’t that busy. This does mean that not everywhere will be open either. Some shops and restaurants will close for a few weeks over the holidays so it can be a frustrating time if you are travelling.
Shorter Spring Festivals:
April – Qingming festival
May – Labour Day
June – Dragon Boat Festival
These festivals aren’t as long but most people get these days off. I would avoid travelling on these holidays or visiting tourist sites as they will be busy. If these holidays are whilst you are travelling in China then my advice would be to not take the train over these days. Stay in one place and do some more relaxing things.
Mid-Autumn Festival – Usually mid to late September. The dates change each year so check it out. If it is in mid-Sep it isn’t too bad but if it is near the October break then people might take a long holiday and it will be busy for a few weeks.
Apart from the busy few days of the Mid-Autumn festival where I would avoid going to anything touristy or travelling then this is actually a lovely time to be in China. September is one of the best months weather-wise and also there are loads of decorations and activities for the mid-autumn festival including lots of mooncakes to try. You don’t usually find mooncakes at any other time of year.
Golden Week (October Holidays 1st – 7th) – Avoid at all costs! Anyone who lives in China will agree that this is not a good time to travel in China and that most people try to leave the country on this holiday as it is so busy.
Whilst the Spring festival is spent with family, Golden Week is usually spent travelling. The prices are high for this week and the cities and tourist attractions are busy. If you are in China around this time then my advice would be to spend it somewhere where you can explore nature on your own if you want to avoid crowds. Another option would be to stay in a big city where they can handle excess tourism - but maybe avoid the major attractions.
The best time to visit China depends on your preferences, the regions you plan to explore, and the type of experiences you seek. I hope you found this guide useful and I’m sure no matter what time you visit China you will enjoy it, but it is good to know what to expect throughout the year!
If you need help planning your trip around the weather and best time to visit China then get in touch I can help you plan your itinerary!