Best Time to Travel to China

Spring and fall are often recommended, but China has many different climates and attractions, so the best time to visit China may depend on: 1) where you want to go, 2) what you want to do e.g. seeing a particular festival or seasonal attraction, 3) what weather you like, or don’t mind, 4) costs, or 5) crowding. Answering the following questions may help you decide your best time to visit China:

• Where in China do you want to go?
• What do you want to do?
• Do you like it hot or cold, or somewhere in between, or are you not bothered?
• Do you like it wet or dry, or are you not bothered?
• Do you want to take advantage of low season discounts?
• Do you want to see one of China's festivals or seasonal attractions?
• Do you want to avoid tourist crowds and crowded transportation?

October — "the Best time", Most Say

The most recommended time to go to China is early autumn (October).

• Things to do: hike on the Great Wall, Li River cruise, photography tour
• Places to visit: Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guilin, Jiuzhaigou, Chengdu

The weather is at its optimum. Most of China has warm/mild temperatures, and the summer rains have stopped (apart from around Hong Kong and Sanya) so it's relatively dry. Fall hues appear, giving many areas added appeal. If you are fond of autumn colors, October is definitely the best month to visit China.

Avoid October 1st–7th — Chinese National Day Holiday

It is relatively quiet at tourist attractions for most of the month, as the summer holiday travel crowds have gone.

But avoid the first week of October (Chinese National Day holiday) when attractions, transport, and hotels are packed with Chinese tourists and prices go up considerably. Prices will drop after the National Day holiday.

Continue to read about thebest places to see fall colors in China., and top places to visit in October in China.

Late Spring (April to May) — Comfortable, but Rainy

The second-best time to travel to China is probably April and May when the flowers are in bloom and the temperatures are warming up. Also, April and May precede China's peak travel season. It is still relatively quiet at attractions.

• Things to do: appreciate rapeseed flowers, Li River cruise, ethnic festivals
• Places to visit: Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Huangshan, Guizhou, Zhangjiajie

In late spring temperatures are optimal with all of China getting into the 20s centigrade (the 70s Fahrenheit), except the extreme northwest and northeast. While the North of China (Beijing, Xi'an) is still dry, the summer rains have already begun in the South, though they are not yet at their peak, with dampness guaranteed and storms possible. This could actually enhance the view in the form of mountain mists in mountainous areas like The Li River and the Yellow Mountains.

Ethnic festivals in Guizhou are concentrated in April and May, such as the Sisters' Meal Festival (April 11–13, 2017). If you are interested in the Miao and Dong ethnic cultures, this is a good time to visit.

Avoid April 29th – May 1st — Labor Day Holiday

Avoid the Labor Day holiday (April 29th to May 1st, 2017), as attractions, transport, and hotels are packed with Chinese tourists and prices go up considerably.

Travel prices are moderate: cheaper than June to October, but dearer than the lower season from November to March (except for the two weeks before and two weeks after Chinese New Year, which are more expensive).

Continue to read: Travel to China in Spring, Why and Top Things to Do.

September — Lingering Heat in the South, Comfortable in the North

September is probably the third most popular time to go to China. It has many of the benefits of October, but with more heat and rain. Some still find this month a little too hot.

• Things to do: Yangtze cruise, visit the Yellow Mountains, enjoy some fruit in Xinjiang
• Places to visit: Beijing, Xi'an, Chongqing, Huangshan, Xinjiang

Continue to read about the Top Places to Visit in September in China.

Summer (June–August) — the Hottest Period

Hottest Weather: June, July and August experience the peak of China's hot summer heat. It is quite normal for daytime temperatures to reach 35+°C (95+°F) in all but the Northeast and mountainous areas. Sunshine and warmth certainly make for good holiday weather, though some might find it too hot.

• Things to do: Yangtze cruise, enjoy the sunshine while on the beach, Tibet’s famous festival, visit the grasslands
• Places to visit: Guilin, the Yangtze River, Sanya, Lhasa, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia

The best time to visit some of China's remote areas: Tibet, the Northwest, Inner Mongolia, and mountainous areas are best-visited in the summer (or late spring / early autumn) when the weather is not bitterly cold.

Busiest Travel Time

Students are on holiday in July and August, and every attraction in the country is packed with Chinese travel groups. Hotels are in huge demand, and flight and train tickets are hard to get. Arrange everything well in advance if you plan to travel during this period. This is the most expensive time to travel.

The Monsoon and Typhoons

The summer rains are also a factor that may affect your trip. Cruises may be halted if the Li River or the Yangtze is in flood, flights may be delayed by typhoons, and any outdoor activity may be rendered less enjoyable by a downpour.

The monsoon is generally greater in intensity the further southeast (or up in the mountains) you go. Hong Kong has the most rainfall, and in Xi'an, and further north and west, the summer rains are hardly worth mentioning. 

Continue to read about the Top 5 Places You Should Visit in China in Summer.

City	Rainy Months
Guilin	Early monsoon, peaks early June
Shanghai	Rain peaks late June, high amounts in July and August
Xi'an	Moderate rains peak in July
Beijing	Rains peak in late July, mostly in July and August
Chengdu	Like Beijing, but with more rain
Hong Kong	Monsoon peaks in August; typhoons add to very high rainfall from May to September
Sanya	Rains peak in September and continue for longest (May–October), but half the quantity of Hong Kong's

The Low Season — Less Popular, but Cheaper

China's low travel season is from November to (early) March. In the low season, althought the weather is colder, you can save money on hotels, flights, and entry tickets, and you can avoid the crowds. 

See more on How to Save on a China Trip.

Early Spring (Around March)

March is favored for visiting North China over late autumn as it is warmer and rainfall isn't really a factor. However, in southern China spring can be uncomfortably damp. This is the time for seeing spring flowers, although some flowers bloom earlier in the warmer south.

See more information about China Spring Travel.

November (late autumn)

November is the best time to see fall colors across China. See China in Fall. For travelling to the south of China late autumn is better than early spring as it is drier, and there are still some warm days.

• Things to do: photography, hiking
• Places to visit: Beijing, Huangshan, Jiuzhaigou, Kunming

Winter (December to February)

Go in winter for winter scenery, winter sports, the cheapest low season prices and no tourist crowds. Generally the best times to visit China's top attractions follow the above order, with the exception of winter attractions like Harbin's Ice and Snow Festival and China's ski resorts.

Good places to go in China's winter to avoid wintry conditions are Hainan Island and its beach resorts like Sanya, and other places that fall just within the tropics like the Hong Kong area, which enjoy mild winters. The tropical rainforest of southernmost Yunnan could be comfortably visited.

• Things to do: Harbin Ice and Snow World, skiing, hot springs, shopping
• Places to visit: Harbin, Beijing, Sanya, Hong Kong

Avoid the Chinese New Year Period — Over-Capacity on Transport

Although the travel price is very low in winter, transport is over-capacity for up to two weeks before and after, and hotels increase their prices. The Chinese New Year date in 2018 is February 15th to 21st, and there will be a “Spring Rush” for everyone heading home to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Read more about the Spring Festival Travel Rush.

Major Traditional and Ethnic Festivals Guide

If you are after China's traditional and ethnic culture, and are fond of colorful local pageantry, you will want to see China's major traditional and ethnic festivals. Click the links for more on China's most popular festivals.

The Worst Times to Go to China

For more on bad times to go, including particularly national holidays, see Dates to Avoid When Planning a China Tour.

Let Us Help You Plan Your China Trip

Our travel advisors are very glad to give you suggestions and guidance for your trip planning. They can tailor-make your trip according to the time you prefer, special interests, and requirements. Let us help you now. Or you can have a look at our most popular China tours:

• Our 8-Day Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai Tour: the choice of most first timers
• Our 11-Day Beijing,Xi'an, Shanghai, and Yangtze Cruise Tour: China's most classic attractions with the Yangtze Cruise

Or you can read our suggestions on How to Plan Your Trip to China in 2017.

• Author: Gavin Van Hinsbergh
• Update: July 9, 2017
• See all my travel articles
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