Visiting China in June

June marks the start of summer, with temperatures rising across the country and the weather getting far more humid. The ‘plum rains’ start in Shanghai, with intense downpours which can flood some of the narrower city streets, plus it’s the most humid month of the year – a bad combination for a visit here or the surrounding water towns. It’s the rainiest month of the year in Hong Kong as well, with temperatures hitting around 30C, so that’s best avoided this month. China’s other popular cities are also sweltering in the heat this month, around 30C in both Beijing and Xi’an, while Pingyao ancient city is similarly hot and also wet.

Instead, it’s best to head up into the mountains and hills to find cooler weather if you’re planning a holiday in China in June. In Yunnan, Pretty Lijiang is still warm, but with temperatures peaking at around 25C, and plenty of tempting options to get outside this month, including mountain lakes and the Naxi villages nearby or Shaxi in the Tibetan foothills, a stop on the ancient Tea Horse Road between China and India. It’s also cooler in the foothills of the Himalayas at Zhongdian (now Shangri-La), although you can expect more rain this month, while trekking at Tiger Leaping Gorge is possible, but rainy conditions may close the area, so it’s not the best month to choose.

There’s a good chance of rain if you head over to northern Sichuan and Gansu for another taste of Tibetan culture, although you could still find dry weather towards the start of the month, and more pleasant temperatures in the mid 20Cs as you explore the grassy plains and mountains around Songpan and in Xiahe, home to semi-nomadic tribes, yak herders and Buddhist monasteries. Jiuzhaigou National Park will also be quieter this month to enjoy hiking to waterfalls and seeing the rainbow terraced pools of Huanglong, with rain often falling later in the day.

The karst scenery and rice terraces of the south, around Yangshuo and Guilin are better left for another month, as it’s also hot, humid and rainy here, so getting outdoors is far less enjoyable in June.

Festivals: The Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, sometimes in early June, with exciting dragon boat races held in many cities and towns across the country. The Chinese holiday commemorates the poet Qu Yuan and it’s traditional to eat sticky rice dumplings called Zongzi too.

Best for: Heading into the mountains