China
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Event Festival
Browse a month-by-month breakdown of suggested itineraries, seasonal activities, climate considerations and festivals.
North China is in a deep freeze but the south is less bitter; preparations for the Lunar New Year get underway well in advance of the festival, which arrives any time between late January and March.
Spring Festival
The Lunar New Year is family focused, with dining on dumplings and gift-giving of hóngbāo (red envelopes stuffed with money). Most families feast together on New Year’s Eve, then China goes on a big week-long holiday. Expect fireworks, parades, temple fairs and lots of colour.
Harbin Ice & Snow Festival
Heilongjiang’s good-looking capital Harbin is aglow with rainbow lights refracted through fanciful buildings and statues carved from blocks of ice. It’s peak season and outrageously cold.
Yuanyang Rice Terraces
The watery winter is the optimum season for the rice terraces’ spectacular combination of liquid and light. Don’t forget your camera, or your sense of wonder.
Weather and Climate
Northern China Weather
Northern China is a massive region with tremendous variations in climate and weather. Spanning areas like Inner Mongolia, Beijing, and Harbin, this region has temperatures throughout that range from sub-zero during the winter months to sweltering and humid during the summer.
While it’s hard to make generalizations about such a large area, the climate is generally continental, experiencing dry, freezing winters and summers that are warm with lots of rain. During the winter months, this area is influenced by cold air from nearby Siberia, while the summer is monsoon season. Outside of the summer months, northeast China is mostly dry. The region is typically very sunny, experience on average 2,500 hours of sunshine each year.
Winter in Northern China
In Northern China, the winter is long and cold, lasting from late November, all the way through March. Temperatures are often below zero, and you’ll likely see plenty of snow, especially if you visit the far north.
Summer in Northern China
Summer sees the opposite extreme in temperatures. Don’t think that because it has cold winters, the northern part of China has cool summers. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. It can be scorching and very humid during the summer months. Summer lasts from May through the end of August, but it can still be warm through September.
Spring in Northern China
Spring is a good time for travel because the climate is much milder than in winter and summer. While it’s true that spring can be rainy, you won’t find the extreme temperatures, and therefore sightseeing can be much more enjoyable. In the far reaches of Northern China, you might still experience snowy conditions, but cities with more humid climates, like Beijing, will generally be pleasantly warm.
Fall in Northern China
Fall is a favorite time to travel in China. The weather is usually pretty glorious in the north, you have a number of opportunities to see fall foliage. China celebrates National Day in the early part of October, and you might want to avoid that. Domestic travel is hectic during that October break, and prices can go up, and crowds are much more significant at famous sights.
Central China Weather
Central China covers a lot of what the normal visitor will experience in China. You’ve got major travel cities like Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai. There’s Qingdao and Chongqing as well as Anhui, Henan and Hubei Provinces.
Chances are, while you’re traveling, you’ll end up spending a decent amount of time in Central China so it’s good to know what the weather will be like. Generally speaking, it’s extreme in summer but mild for the rest of the year. You can experience a lot of rain throughout the year in Central
South and Southwest China Weather
Southern and Southwestern China are two large and exceptionally diverse regions, both in population, weather, and culture. Many of China’s largest cities are included in this classification, including Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xiamen.
In general, China’s southern provinces are wetter with warmer temperatures than northern neighbors. Winter, which runs from January through March, is short but typically very cold, while April through September is the rainy season when temperatures and humidity peak. Along the southeastern coast, in Fujian and Guangdong, typhoon season lasts from July through September.
Autumn is the best time to visit Southern China because of the mild climate and break in humidity. Winter can also be beautiful in the far south as it will not be frigid for long and you can enjoy outdoor activities.
Winter in Southern and Southwestern China
Winter in Southern China is much more bearable than northern cities, where temperatures often fall below freezing. While you won’t experience that in this part of the country, it can get chilly and drizzly in some cities. This is a great time of year to visit some of the milder areas in southern China, such as Hainan and Yunnan. Temperatures here are still relatively balmy and most days are clear.
Summer in Southern and Southwestern China
The summer months are peak travel season in China, but in the southern part of the country, they can be quite miserable. While some cities, like Kunming, never get too hot, others are warm and extremely muggy during the summer. The humidity in many parts can be unbearable and excessive rain is part of everyday life. If you must visit during the summer, Hainan isn’t a bad idea—at least you can hit the beach if it gets too warm.
Fall in Southern and Southwestern China
Fall in southern China is a beautiful season. Temperatures are cooler, and summer’s rain has moved on until next year. You might experience more massive crowds in early October due to Chinese holidays, but in general, this an excellent time to visit for good weather and beautiful fall colors.
Spring in Southern and Southwestern China
Spring can be a great time to visit southern China. Many parts of the region are still dry, as monsoon season hasn’t begun yet, and temperatures are generally pleasant. You’ll find good weather wherever you go, and much of spring is an off-peak time which means it’s also easier to find good deals on accommodations and tours.
Northwest China Weather
The northwestern part of China becomes more like Central Asia than Eastern Asia. The climate is extremely arid and dry, but the terrain is some of the most beautiful in China. It is here that the historic Silk Road snaked from its Eastern terminus at Xi’an across the mountains and deserts through Central Asia an on to Europe. Travelers will feel the extremes of Chinese weather when traveling here.
Winter in Northwest China
The region gets the most extreme weather during winter. Temperatures drop to way below freezing, and some areas even close for the season. For example, tourist hotels don’t operate from the end of October through April along the Karakoram Highway in Xinjiang, and you’d be miserable looking at the Buddhist paintings inside the Mogao caves in December.
Spring in Northwest China
Spring is undoubtedly a milder time of year but it’s still going to feel very chilly until late May. Things in the region green up quite a bit, though, and the tourists are few and far between so spring is an excellent time to travel to Northwest China.
Summer in Northwest China
Summer is high season in the regions. It is generally hot and very dry. There is very little rainfall here in summer months, and daytime temperatures can get above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). The nighttime temperatures drop radically with the sunset so evenings can be cooler and very pleasant. Northern Gansu (Silk Road Hexi Corridor and Dunhuang) in August is delightful.
Fall in Northwest China
Fall is also an excellent time to go, although depending on when you travel, you might be getting into the late season (some places close to tourists after the October break). Xinjiang in October is quite lovely: Warm and comfortable during daytime sightseeing, but cooler in the evening.
