Best time to visit China
Weather, climate and festivals
The best time to visit China is between April/May and September/October, during spring and autumn when the weather tends to be pleasantly warm and dry. As the world’s third biggest country, China’s sheer size means that it is possible to travel year-round as long as you choose your destination carefully – when to go to China often depends on where you plan to go.
Summers can be hot and humid across much of the country, especially the subtropical climate of the south and east, while it’s often bitterly cold during winter in the north and west. But whether you’re tempted by the country’s long history, exploring ancient palaces and temples or gleaming modern cities, venturing into rice fields or walking the Great Wall, seeing pandas or snow-capped peaks, there’s always a good reason to explore.
View the best time to visit China by region or by month:
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
Typical monthly climate in China
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North China | ● 0°C ❄️ |
● 3°C ❄️ |
● 10°C 🌤️ |
● 17°C ☀️ |
● 24°C ☀️ |
● 28°C 🌦️ |
● 30°C 🌧️ |
● 29°C 🌧️ |
● 25°C 🌦️ |
● 18°C ☀️ |
● 10°C 🌤️ |
● 3°C ❄️ |
| South China | ● 13°C 🌤️ |
● 15°C 🌤️ |
● 19°C ☀️ |
● 23°C ☀️ |
● 27°C 🌦️ |
● 29°C 🌧️ |
● 31°C 🌧️ |
● 31°C 🌧️ |
● 28°C 🌦️ |
● 24°C ☀️ |
● 19°C ☀️ |
● 15°C 🌤️ |
Legend:
● Good weather
● Average weather
● Poor weather
North China
North China is home to heaps of cultural spots, from the famous Great Wall to nomadic villages, and is known for its dry, hot summers and long, cold winters. On the other side of the coin, the winter months here are very cold and Beijing’s daytime temperatures are usually around freezing. So, if you’re planning a winter break, be sure to pack warm clothing to keep you snug.
We think the best time to explore the North China is in the spring or autumn, from around the end of March to May, when conditions are cool and dry- ideal for sightseeing.
South China
Whether you want to explore ancient lantern-lit cities or sail between breath-taking karst mountains, South China has it all. With more of a subtropical climate than in the north, the south enjoys long, hot and humid summers (with plenty tropical showers thrown in for good measure), and cool, short winters.
Spring and autumn are ideal times to head to the south when the weather is warm and there’s a break in humidity.
National Holidays
It’s worth bearing in mind when planning your trip that Chinese New Year occurs in either January or February and most locals take this opportunity to visit family. Therefore, it’s quite difficult to travel during these periods of time as most flights, trains, buses and accommodation are full!
Although April – May and September – October are the best months to visit, we wouldn’t recommend travelling in the first week of May or the first week of October as these are also national Chinese holidays and once again all means of transport and accommodation can get booked up.
