May is the end of China's spring, which is full of vitality. Many natural scenic areas are transformed by oceans of flowers and mountains are covered with exuberant trees and plants.
May is neither too hot nor too cold, making it an ideal season to travel around China. We have listed the best 10 places to visit in May: 1) Shangri-La, 2) Tibet, 3) Guilin, 4) Chengdu, 5) Zhongwei, 6) Yangtze River Cruise, 7) the Silk Road, 8) Zhangjiajie, 9) Chaozhou, and 10) Jingdezhen.
1. Shangri-La — a Colorful Palette to Feast the Eyes
Located at the border between Yunnan Province and Tibet, the fabulous natural scenery in Shangri-La makes you think of heaven.
Shangri-La in spring is light green and in summer it's awash with color. Snowy mountains, dense forests, green grasslands and pastoral villages make it a peaceful and tranquil place.
In addition to its amazing natural scenery, its ethnic culture is a major reason to visit Shangri-La. The main ethnic group there is the Tibetans, who still maintain their traditional lifestyle and culture.
There you could:
- Experience a Tibetan ceremony of blessing behind Songzanlin Monastery, which is not seen by ordinary tourists.
- Visit a non-public dormitory of Songzanlin Monastery.
- Stay in a tent on a mountain pasture where local Tibetan people live and learn about their lifestyle.
If you look for a place to escape crowds in Yunnan during Labor Day, we recommend a Baoshan Stone Village's hiking in Lijiang — a good place to get close to nature and feel the vitality of spring.
Houses in the village are all made of natural stones by its Naxi inhabitants. May is its most beautiful season. If you are interested in it, contact us.
2. Tibet — Untainted Land and Mysterious Culture
Tibet is a place of mystery, tranquility, and rich national heritage. It's a place for slowing down and soaking up the natural charm all around.
The breathtaking beauty of nature in Tibet will capture your imagination. Yamdrok Lake glows turquoise when the sun is shining.
Tibet is overflowing with characteristic Tibetan landmarks, vast Tibetan plateau, herds of cattle and sheep, blue skies, clear water, and fresh air.
There you could:
- Visit Jokhang Temple, the most holy temple for Tibetan Buddhists, where a lot of devoted pilgrims prostrate themselves near the front gate.
- Explore Ani Tsankhung Nunnery, a quiet but active convent where females study Buddhism.
- Take photos with a yak or Tibetan mastiff by the Yamdrok lakeside.
Recommended Tours
- 8-Day Lhasa, Nyingchi, and Bome Spring Tour — When Spring's Pink Blends with Mysterious Tibet
- 4-Day Lhasa Highlights Comfort Tour — Capture the Spirit of Lhasa
All our tours can be customized. The itinerary can be adjusted according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements. Just contact us.
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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3. Guilin — Enjoy Various Outdoor Activities
The Li River is more charming under the warm sunshine of May. May is a golden time for bamboo rafting on the Yulong River and cycling in the countryside of Yangshuo.
May is also the time for irrigating the Longji Terraced Fields. Seen from the mountainside viewpoints, the fields look like layer upon layer of exquisite mirrors.
There you could:
- Go kayaking to enjoy the cool water and appreciate the karst scenery along the Li River.
- Explore a "mysterious" limestone cave with magnificent stalactites and stalagmites that has never been touched by ordinary tourists.
- Hike among the Longji Terraced Fields, enjoy a lunch with a Yao family, and try some freshly-fried oil tea.
4. Chengdu — Have a Spring Date with Cute Pandas
May is a pleasant time to visit Chengdu with refreshing spring colors around you. Meeting the cute pandas and having a hotpot feast and other local snacks in Chengdu are must-do things.
Chengduers go out to relax in the warm spring sunshine in Renmin Park. They sip cups of tea, play mahjong, enjoy a traditional teahouse ear massage, etc.
There you could:
- Meet the cuddly pandas in the Panda Breeding and Research Center.
- Visit the last farmers' market in Chengdu, learn how to how to bargain like a local, and try some local snacks.
- Enjoy a panda afternoon tea and a bird's-eye view of Tianfu Square.
Recommended Tours
- 3-Day Giant Panda, Giant Buddha, and Ancient Town Tour
- 4-Day Western Sichuan Tibetan Spring Tour from Chengdu
- 8-Day Chengdu to Shangri-La Adventure Tour
Contact us to create a trip for your spring break according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements.
5. Zhongwei — Feel the Charm of the Desert
In spring, when everyone goes to admire the flowers, a trip to the desert stands out as discerning for more than hay fever sufferers.
Its advantageous and strategic location has endowed Zhongwei with the features of vast deserts and green hills, the Yellow River and an oasis. At the same time, you are able to enjoy various entertaining activities there, such as sand slides and camel rides.
There you could:
- Experience dune bashing, sand sledding, camel trekking, and sheepskin rafting in Shapotou.
- Experience sheepskin navigation on the Yellow River.
- Enjoy wine tasting and an organic lunch in peace with a view of the vineyard.
Recommended Tour
- 3 Days Zhongwei Desert Tour with Winery Experience — A Sip of Desert Wilderness
- Contact us to create a May trip according to your needs
6. The Yangtze River Cruise — Cozy and Relaxing
The Yangtze River is one of the best options to escape crowds in May Day, where you can enjoy a relatively quiet and relaxing time. The plants on the mountains and high cliffs along the Yangtze River are verdant.
There you could:
- Appreciate the marvelous gorge scenery from the deck
- Have a cup of coffee or glass of wine bathed in the breeze
- Have a wonderful welcome banquet and talk with people from all over the world
Contact us if you want to book a Yangtze River Cruise.
7. The Silk Road — Rich Culture Experience
Along the Silk Road, from Xi'an to Kashgar, you will find intriguing scenery, together with the historic sites and cultural places.
There you could:
- Bask in history and art in the Mogao Caves
- Take instagrammable photos with the rainbow mountains in Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park
- Discover Kashgar Old City — the only traditional historical district with typical characteristics of Xinjiang that is being preserved
See 12 Best Silk Road Destinations with Recommended Things to Do .
Recommended Tours
- 11-Day Along the Great Silk Road Tour
- 6-Day Dunhuang and Zhangye Photography Tour
- More Silk Road Tours
8. Zhangjiajie — Vigorous Forests and Seas of Clouds
The mountainous scenery in Zhangjiajie is unique and fabulous and is even more charming and poetic under the misty rain and fog or early summer.
It is more relaxing during this season, with fewer people around. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle, this may be the best season for you.
- Escape the crowds entirely and enjoy the scenery on an off-the-beaten track route.
- Bike around the beautiful and non-touristy side of Tianmen Mountain.
- Experience via ferrata (cable-safe cliff challenges) at Hongyanling (Red Rock Ridge).
- Try bungee jumping on the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge
Recommended Tours
5-Day Zhangjiajie Hiking and Biking Tour for Any Level
4-Day Zhangjiajie Essence Tour
9. Chaozhou — Go on a Date with Delicacies
Chaozhou has inherited a food culture dating back to the Qin (2,200 years ago) and Song (1,000 years ago) dynasties.
It is a paradise for a food hunter — from its delicious Teochew beef hot pot to fresh fish dumplings, and from its crispy spring rolls to novel fermented bean curd cake.
In addition to its food culture, there is much more to explore: brilliant history, distinctive folk customs…
There you could:
- Enjoy amazing Chaozhou cuisine in Paifang Street.
- Taste Chaozhou kung fu tea and watch Chaozhou opera in a teahouse in Chaozhou Old Town.
- Explore Guangji Bridge, one of the greatest creations in China's history of bridge construction, while you take in Chaozhou's history.
Recommend Tour
- 3-Day Chaozhou and Shantou Tour — A Bite of Chaoshan
All our tours can be customized. The itinerary can be adjusted according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements. Just contact us.
10. Jingdezhen — Best Place to Appreciate Chinese Porcelain
In the south of China, there is a thousand-year-old town named after the Jingde emperor's reign in Song Dynasty. It produces a beautiful and precious product whose English name is synonymous with China, even its namesake. Welcome to Jingdezhen.
Porcelain (also called china) is the soul and life of Jingdezhen. A trip to Jingdezhen is a must for china lovers and porcelain enthusiasts.
There you could:
- Visit the Museum of Porcelain, which will take you through China's porcelain history.
- Create some porcelain of your own under the guidance of a master.
- Visit Yaoli Ancient Town and find the secret ingredients of porcelain.
Recommended Tour
- 3-Day Jingdezhen Porcelain Tour — Discover Why china Is Called "china"
Our Most Popular May Tours
If you are planning a trip in China in May, consider the following choice tours for inspiration:
- 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour — Meet the Amazing Beauty of Yunnan
- 8-Day Guilin, Yangshuo, and Guizhou Relaxation Tour — Picturesque Karst Scenery and Idyllic Countryside
- 8 Days Chengdu to Shangri-La Adventure Tour — A Memorable Road Trip on the HAN-TIBETAN ROAD
All our tours can be customized. If you are not interested in the above destinations or tours, you can contact us to tailor-make a May tour for you.