July is scorching and humid throughout most of China — it's the hottest month. In some places, it is also the rainiest month.
July is nevertheless a good time for families to travel. Many customers plan their family tours during their children's summer vacations.
Read on to find out how China's July climate affects tourism and our travel suggestions.
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China Weather in July: Overview
- Average daily temperature range: 21–30°C (70–86°F), hot
- Average rainfall: 156 mm (6 in), high
- Average rainy days: 10
- Average sunny days: 21
Weather in North China (Beijing, Xi'an...)
North China is hot and rainy in July, with July and August being the rainiest months. Avoid the afternoon thunderstorms!
In Beijing, the average temperature is 22–31°C (72–88°F) and there are typically 14 days of rain amounting to 179 mm (7 in) in July.
When planning your tour, you are recommended to arrange outdoor activities in the morning and late afternoon and visit indoor places that offer air-conditioning in the middle of the day.
A night tour would be cooler and would offer you a unique experience, such as a night tour to the Simatai section of the Great Wall.
Also, don't fully schedule each day to allow for flexibility in case unexpected rain upsets your plans.
Clothing: Wear T-shirts, light clothing, and shorts.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Beautiful Beijing with Ethan & Mr. Chen
Ethan, our wonderful guide, whose praises we can not sing loudly enough, was compassionate, caring, and overall endearing! His sense of ease and familiarity with each sight, which were unfamiliar wonders to us, provided a sense of peacefulness that facilitated full enjoyment - helped too by his punctuality and attention to detail. more
Feb 2024, apisn2023
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The Highlights and High Life of Beijing with Ethan & Mr. Chen
Ethan, our wonderful tour guide, made our entire trip an absolute joy for us as he was extraordinarily caring, considerate, and generous. Having had the pleasure of taking in the sights of Beijing previously with another lovely guide, Angela, it was spectacular not only to show the family how fantastic the city is but also how high the quality of services provided by China Highlights are. Each day unveiled a new treasure, helpfully detailed by Ethan, and punctuated by delicious and varied local food. Our driver, Mr. Chen, was also a delight, and was equally as key to the overall experience as he was both attentive and almost mystically punctual! more
Feb 2024, Apis
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Great Time in Beijing
Our 4-day experience in Beijing was unforgettable. Our guide, Selinda, opened the doors to the city's millennia-old history and culture with her knowledge, kindness, and courtesy. We discovered magnificent places, tasted delicious food, and stayed in clean hotels, all accompanied by safe and reliable transportation service. We recommend traveling with China Highlights. more
Feb 2024, Nicola B
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3rd time the charm, is being charmed for the 3rd time.
This is my 3rd tour of Beijing in the last 18 months and I think that speaks a little to the quality of service you get with China Highlights. Each time the sites are the same but each tour guide managed to present them in new and wonderful ways. Also some attractions that were undergoing renovations have been completed, so there were new things to see as well.A big thanks to Mr. Michael, our tour this time around. He was very gregarious and knowledgeable about all the sites. more
Feb 2024, Jonathan Mueller
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3rd time the charm, is charmed for the 3rd time
The sites stay the same but each time we have done this tour, the tour guides manage to make it feel like it is the first time you are experiencing it. And, with the constant renovations, this time we were able to see previous areas that were unavailable the last time we came. more
Feb 2024, Jonathan M
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Great trip and experience!
From beginning to end, China Highlights was very courteous, responsive and attentive in planning and executing a great trip!Aspects and execution of the trip was as discussed and was an overall great experience. Our guide, Michael, was very kind and knowledgeable throughout the tour and would address all questions and help us take lots of photos. Would definitely travel with China Highlights again! more
Feb 2024, Karol
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3rd the charm is charmed for the 3rd time
This is my 3rd tour of Beijing in the last 18 months and I think that speaks a little to the quality of service you get with China Highlights. Each time the sites are the same but each tour guide managed to present them in new and wonderful ways. Also some attractions that were undergoing renovations have been completed, so there were new things to see as well.A big thanks to Mr. Michael, our tour this time around. He was very gregarious and knowledgeable about all the sites. more
Feb 2024, jkjmueller
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1 Day in Beijing
Nice views, Not too much people, Jessi (guide ) so friendly and she have a great service & she knows the answer of all your questions more
Feb 2024, Fernando J
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Fabulous day!
Jesse He ,she is a nice tourist guide patience and take good care for us. We had a wonderful time in Beijing,we did the forbidden city and greatwall We love everything ! more
Feb 2024, Charon R
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Private trip in Beijing and Luoyang
We spent 3 days in Beijing with Helen as our guide. We went to TianAnMen, Forbidden City and MuTianYu Great Wall to name a few. Helen took great care of us and is very attentive as I travel with my 60+ years old parents, from asking whether we need restroom breaks to making sure that our lunch were all according to our dietary needs more
Jan 2024, Iriana Iriana
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An excellent day with Linda
Linda (Ling ling)is a great tour guide,provide a lot of knowledge and history of the great wall,and took us to taste very delicious food too,we had a very good time with her!highly recommend her! more
Jan 2024, Angeline Lim
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Great time in Beijing with Bruce
We stayed in Beijing for three days altogether. We went to the summer palace. the Tian'an'men square, the Forbidden City,the Temple of heaven and the Great Wall. Our tour guide Bruce is very friendly and speaks English fluently. He explained every scenic spot to us patiently and humorously. my family are very satisfied with his service. more
Jan 2024, Mayra C
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Bucket List Trip to China
My first stop in China was Beijing. Ethan was my guide there. Daily, they would pick me up and take me to the spots on the itinerary. He helped me plan outside activities like a Chinese acrobat show. He even walked me to my seat in my theater so I could easily find my correct chair. What was most helpful was Ethan waiting with me at the train station and even helping me on to my seat and giving the train attendant my meal order. Very little English was spoken by the train attendant. more
Jan 2024, Megan Sandbothe
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Great Wall at Jinshanling
We went to the Great Wall at Jinshanling which is a very beautiful place which is not that busy. In fact most of the time it felt like we were alone on the wall.The tourguide (Jack) was very knowledgeable and very friendly.A big thumbs up more
Jan 2024, Onno
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Private trip in Beijing and Luoyang
We spent 3 days in Beijing with Helen as our guide. We went to TianAnMen, Forbidden City and MuTianYu Great Wall to name a few. Helen took great care of us and is very attentive as I travel with my 60+ years old parents, from asking whether we need restroom breaks to making sure that our lunch were all according to our dietary needs. We had great 3 days in Beijing.We also visited Luoyang. Our travel advisor arranged a Business class seat for our high speed train to Luoyang. We were picked up at the station by our guide in Luoyang, Lisa. We then visited Dengfeng to see Songyang academy, shaolin temple, Luoyang grottoes. She also took care of us very well and very knowledgeable about the history. more
Jan 2024, lriana lriana
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Beijing 2024
We traveled to Beijing with China Highlights in January 2024. Our tour guide Ethan was organized and knowledgeable which made our trip seamless and very interesting!! He helpfully suggested additional activities if we had time in the evenings and assisted us in booking tickets for them. Visiting the Mutianyu Great wall of China was a big highlight of our time in Beijing! more
Jan 2024, Lydia
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Beijing 2024
We traveled to Beijing with China Highlights in January 2024. Our tour guide Ethan was organized and knowledgeable which made our trip seamless and very interesting!! He helpfully suggested additional activities if we had time in the evenings and assisted us in booking tickets for them. Visiting the Mutianyu Great wall of China was a big highlight of our time in Beijing more
Jan 2024, Explore49612084715
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Beijing
Fantastic couple days in Beijing. Thank you to my guide Mark who eloquently relayed stories about China history and culture. more
Jan 2024, Steve P
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Jack is an excellent guide
Jack is an excellent guide, very patient, punctual, wonderful command of english. I recommend him any day. more
Jan 2024, Brahma
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Great intro to 🇨🇳
Candy was fabulous right from the start. She was knowledgeable, passionate and a lot of fun. Our introduction to China and Beijing was an interesting and memorable one!! more
Jan 2024, Jo66
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Weather in East China (Shanghai, Hangzhou...)
East China also experiences its highest yearly temperatures, but, unlike much of China, the rainfall slackens. It is a good time to visit mountains, such as the Yellow Mountains, where it is cooler.
The Yellow Mountains have a cooler temperature, averaging 17–22°C (63–72°F).
In hot Shanghai, there is much less rainfall than in June or August. Most of the rain falls in early July. Shanghai averages 25–32°C (77–90°F) with typically 13 days (138 mm, 5 in) of rain in July. Other eastern cities, such as Hangzhou, are similar.
Clothing: Wear a thin water-resistant jacket or rain gear when needed, but generally light clothing, and shorts.
Weather in South China (Guilin, Hong Kong...)
South China is hot and humid in July — be prepared for the tropical weather. Sometimes, typhoons will bring heavy rain to South China.
Guilin averages 26–33°C (79–91°F) with typically 16 days of rain (201 mm, 8 in) in July. Temperatures in cities further south, such as Guangzhou and Hong Kong, are higher still. Hong Kong is hot and rainy, and there are occasional downpours or tropical storms.
Clothing: Wear shorts, light clothes, and rain gear.
Weather in West China (Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan...)
West China will have a better climate in July for traveling. The mountains and valleys of Yunnan Province and Sichuan Province benefit from pleasant weather — it is cool or warm depending on the altitude.
Tibet has more comfortable weather in July than other areas, averaging 12–22°C (54–72°F) and only moderate rainfall.
Clothing: T-shirts, shirts, shorts, or jeans are fine to wear. Take some rain gear too. For Lhasa, dress in layers and take your coat and sunglasses.
Top 6 Places to Visit in China in July
The cool mountainous areas and high elevations are always good destinations to avoid the summer heat. July also lends itself to plenty of fun outdoor activities, such as paddleboarding.
1. The Yellow Mountains
The Yellow Mountains (Huangshan) are a good place to avoid the summer heat that's experienced in the cities.
Hiking through the scenic trails, you could gaze at mystical clouds that often surround the peaks. Catching a sunrise or sunset from the mountains is an unforgettable experience and a must-do activity.
After a hiking trip on the mountains, you can descend to visit the ancient villages. Roam or bike through the villages to immerse yourself in the pristine beauty of nature blended with well-preserved Anhui-style architecture.
You could also participate in the creation of ancient local crafts, such as making a Chinese lantern.
2. Zhangjiajie
July provides pleasant weather for outdoor excursions and it's a fantastic time to explore the magnificent Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Enjoy the "floating" mountains depicted in the movie Avatar along the walking trail in the cool valley.
Take a cable car to appreciate the stunning views from Tianzi Mountain and venture onto the world's longest glass bridge for a thrilling experience.
3. Guilin
July is an excellent time for outdoor activities in Guilin. Embark on a Li River cruise, and meander through the surreal karst mountains and lush countryside.
Cycling around the scenic countryside of Yangshuo is a popular choice for families.
There are also many cool and fun outdoor activities that are perfect for families with children. Delight in the exhilarating experience of stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) while splashing in the crystal-clear waters of its scenic rivers.
If your kids like something adventurous, take a family adventure to an undeveloped cave to discover the amazing stalactites and stalagmites.
4. Yangtze River Cruise
Taking a Yangtze River Cruise could be an excellent way to escape the heat and avoid large crowds.
Enjoy the mesmerizing views of the Three Gorges as you cruise along the majestic river. Explore the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric project, and delve into its history and impressive engineering.
With the relaxing pace, wide range of onboard activities, and exciting shore excursions, it provides a perfect option for a multi-generational family's summer vacation.
5. Tibet
Tibet's summer is cool and stunning. The blue mirror-like lakes are shining between snowy mountains and grasslands.
You could admire the blooming wildflowers across the expansive grasslands, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and experience a local Tibetan family's traditional home and engage in their farming activities.
Go to the Potala Palace and discover the supreme significance of the palace to the Tibetans.
Discover stories of lamas in monasteries and receive a most sacred blessing in the highest monastery in the world.
Leave your footprints at Everest Base Camp, immersing yourself in the unique charm and profound religious atmosphere of the region.
6. Jiuzhaigou
In July, Jiuzhaigou is adorned with vibrant colors, surrounded by lush green vegetation.
Take a leisurely hike through the picturesque trails, keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife and the iconic blue, green, and turquoise lakes that reflect the surrounding mountains.
Marvel at the majesty of the Nuorilang Waterfall, one of the largest waterfalls in China. Jiuzhai Valley is a perfect retreat for those seeking tranquility, natural beauty, and serenity.
Costs and Crowds in July
July is a peak travel month in China. As the summer vacation begins for students and families, the demand for travel surges, leading to increased prices for flights and accommodation.
Crowds are expected in attractions, especially in popular destinations. To manage costs and crowds in July, consider planning your trip well in advance, securing bookings early.
See How to Plan a Summer Trip to China.
Tips for Avoiding Crowds
We've gathered these insights from the positive feedback and satisfaction expressed by our valued guests.
1. Rise and shine early: Contrary to what you may think, waking up early isn't as tiring as it seems. By doing so, you can enjoy quieter sights in the morning and even stumble upon unexpected surprises that you wouldn't normally encounter.
2. Utilize VIP access: Many attractions offer VIP services during peak times to help bypass long queues. Our travel consultants and tour guides are well-informed about such services and will promptly arrange them for you, ensuring you save time and enjoy a hassle-free experience.
3. Explore alternative attractions: Instead of crowded and hard-to-book attractions, consider visiting alternative sites that offer similar experiences. For example, if booking Shaanxi History Museum in Xi'an proves challenging during the peak season, Xi'an Museum or Shaanxi Archaeology Museum can be excellent alternatives.
If you have plans to visit China during the summer vacation, feel free to contact us to create a hassle-free itinerary based on your requirements.
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All of our itineraries can be personalized for you and your family's travel goals, available travel days and dates, and other requirements. Just contact us.
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