March is a great time to admire the natural beauty of China.
March generally marks the transition from winter to spring in most parts of China. Southern regions, such as Guangzhou, Guilin, or Hong Kong, tend to have milder temperatures and blooming flowers.
However, northern regions, such as Beijing, may still experience cold temperatures, especially earlier in the month.
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China Weather in March: Overview
- Average daily temperature range: 3–13°C (37–55°F)
- Average rainfall: 46 mm (1.8 in)
- Average rainy days: 4
- Average sunny days: 27

Weather in North China (Beijing, Xi'an...)
North China starts to warm up and snow melts more than it stays from Beijing southwards. North of Beijing, it is still definitely freezing winter until April.
March is still very cold. Temperature differences between day and night are large — more than 10°C (18°F). Sandstorms and foggy (smoggy) weather are possible during this month for cities in North China. Prevailing light to moderate breezes reinforce the feeling of cold.
In Beijing in March, the average temperature range is -1–12°C (30–54°F) and there are 2 days of rain/snow totaling 9 mm (0.5 in). It is like Washington, D.C. (except for the dust storms and dryness) — sometimes quite chilly and often windy.
Clothing: Wear a winter coat, thick trousers and socks, and warm shoes. If you venture north of Beijing, dress for a Siberian winter, with thick hats, gloves, scarves, etc.
China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.


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Magical Adventure
Wow this tour was honestly the best tourI have ever taken! Our guide Simon Yao was simply superb! His English was excellent and he was very easy to talk to. He was personable and friendly but not overpowering or overbearing. Very knowledgeable about history. Thankfully the weather was good so we were not super hot !Finally at the wall we were amazed by it's beauty and grandeur. It really is something and pictures don't do it justice. more
Nov 2023,
Annika M
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Excellent two day visit to Great Wall
Our guide ‘Mark’ was incredible. So friendly, knowledgable and funny. The itinerary was perfect, we got to see two different parts of the Great Wall (one of which at night which was magical) and our hotel stay in Gubei was wonderful. Highly recommend to anybody visiting Beijing more
Nov 2023,
James_Wolstenholme
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Great day out with Mark, thanks China Highlights!
We did a 1 day private tour with China Highlights to see Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Communication was great throughout - from trip planning/booking with Roger and from our guide Mark who contacted us the day before to confirm meet up time/location. Avoided a lot of the queues and definitely learned quite a bit of history from our guide Mark…thanks again! No language barriers/issues…highly recommended. more
Nov 2023,
ykeezy
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China Three (3) Cities Tours
To the tour guides, Ethan, Jason and Tony, you guys have made my visit an awesome and memorable experience. All the tour guides spoke english and communicated very effectively. They are knowledgeable about all the sites visited including, Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City, Panda Breeding and Research Center, Leshan Giant Buddha, Hallelujah Mountains, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge, and Tianmen Mountain. The tour guides ensured I got the most out of my time I stayed in the various cities Beijing, Chengdu and Zhangjiajie. more
Nov 2023,
Kadar
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13 days in China
We booked a 13 day’s tour of China with China Highlights. Our travel advisor, Ms Leah Zhou organised an itinerary that suited what we wanted. She was really helpful and patient will all our needs. Leah helped us organised our 30th Wedding Anniversary Dinner and my 60th Birthday celebration?? in Beijing. For this to be possible, she had to liaise with our guide in Beijing. The flowers and cake were a real surprise. My husband and I, were really touched at the good service provided by China Highlights and Ms Leah Zhou. Thank you China Highlights and Ms Leah Zhou for your constant care of your customers. I will certainly recommend China Highlights to my friends. more
Nov 2023,
Eda Adams
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Perfect Beijing experience
Covering all major sights our exploration of Beijing and surroundings was flawless guided by Lily, along with her knowledgeable and balanced information on Chinas culture and history. In particular, Lily was able to adjust the tour according to personal preferences, e.g. focus on photography, as well as suggesting additional activities like an impressive authentic artistic show. I highly recommend China Highlights as China tour operator and Lily Liu as excellent guide regarding the Beijing area. more
Nov 2023,
Perfect Beijing experience
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Anne and Bob’s tour of Beijing
We did the China Highlights tour of Beijing with our excellent guide Mark and his driver. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Beijing highlights including the Lama Temple, the Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Lama Temple. The Summer Palace with the boat ride and the Garden of Virtue and Harmony were memorable also and the Mutianyu Great Wall was a highlight. We were impressed with Mark as a guide. He knew his history and he was kind and thoughtful. He took us to some excellent restaurants and we were introduced to some beautiful food. We enjoyed his company and will always remember him. more
Nov 2023,
BendigoBob
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Amazing Beijing Tour with Risa!
Risa gave us a wonderful tour of the city! She thoroughly explained the cultuaral importance of each exhibit while also educating us on the Chinese culture. Appreciated having this wonderful Beijing trip with Risa:) more
Nov 2023,
Angelica M.
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Amazing Beijing Tour With Risa!
We were very kindly received in Beijing by our tour guide Risa. She gave us a very thorough tour of the city and showed us wonderful places, while also explaining the important history/culture of China! Very beautiful city filled with many things to do and full of culture! This was very well planned and made it very easy for us to visit the city and foreigners:) Thank you Risa! more
Nov 2023,
Angelica M
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Do Beijing like a local
They organised my trip very quickly and efficiently. On the day, Anna was very friendly to me, my mum and my baby. Very accommodating to our needs. The car was immaculately clean and very comfortable. We visited everything we initially wanted and more. Also, Anna took us to the best meal we had in China. It makes a difference to have a local choosing the dishes! more
Nov 2023,
Natali A
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Beijing 2 day tour
Spent 2 days in Beijing with Ethan as my guide and had a fantastic experience. Ethan is very knowledgeable, easy company and takes excellent photographs. The organisation was excellent as well including the driver for the tour as well the airport pick up. more
Nov 2023,
Tam
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Thank you Mark and China Highlights for an amazing trip!!
Mark was the first sight that we had after getting off the plane and what a beautiful site he was! We felt very safe having him as our first tour guide! We sure appreciate having him guide us through Beijing wouldn’t replace him with anyone!! Thanks Mark for all of your hard work and preparation! more
Nov 2023,
adyn h
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10 stars for Mark and China Highlights for making our trip unforgettable!!!
Mark was an amazing tour guide he was honest, hard working, punctual, thoughtful, anticipated all of our needs, and took care of everything. It was a worry free experience and we couldn’t have done it without him. Thanks to Mark and China Highlights we had an unforgettable trip! Highly recommend! more
Nov 2023,
Jamie H
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Excellent Two Weeks Across China
We used Asia Highlights (China Highlights in China) to help plan two weeks across China: Beijing, Xian, Guilin, a Yangtze cruise and Shanghai. Albee helped put it all together and was a huge help. She was very responsive and all the guides in each city were excellent! The hotels were perfect. We would definitely use the company once again for other trips to Asia. more
Oct 2023,
Charles
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Great Experience with China Highlights
Over at Beijing, Angela met us at the train station and ensured we were well settled in our hotel. We spent 2 days with her as our Guide. Angela is well informed and also adapted the itinerary to cover areas we wanted to take advantage off, e.g. apple picking at the orchard! The driver we had on both legs were good and friendly. more
Oct 2023,
Edwin
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China Round Trip in October 2023 Family FT & G Braun from Germany
Here in Beijing we got Jack as a tour guide who is very knowledgeable and supportive as well as flexible when there is a change in the program needed. Communication with him is easy as he is fluent in English. It is difficult to say which attraction is the greatest as all are outstanding being it the Forbidden City, the Great Wall or the Summer Palace as well as the Temple of Heaven. The driver, Mr. Hu needs also to be mentioned very positively as he politely took special care of us and his driving style was safe and patient with all the heavy traffic situations. more
Oct 2023,
Franz-Theo Braun
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Beijing Experience
I engaged Roger Li at China Highlights to arrange a One Day Beijing Tour for my clients from Brazil and the UK after our business meetings last week. Not only did the clients have a fantastic time visiting Tiananmen Square, Forbidden Palace and the Great Wall all in one day; but they came back with rave reviews on how well the day was organised and commented on the expertise of the tour guide too. I had 4 very happy clients then meet me in Shanghai for part 2 of meetings - thanks to Roger and Felix! Many thanks again. more
Oct 2023,
Bobby Tsang
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Jinshanling amazing hiking trip
We took the hiking trip Jinshanling package, we like it because the view was amazing, not much crowd and our tour guide arrange everything perfectly. We like it.However please be aware that this hiking trip will involve challenging stairs step and inclination, but still suitable for someone that exercise regularly. more
Oct 2023,
Frans A
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Awesome experience!
Awesome experience touring Beijing with China Highlights. My tour guide, Jennifer, was knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and very accommodating. It was like taking a tour with a friend. My favorite part of the tour was walking the Great Wall of China. Jennifer made sure to take me to a remote area, not just the crowded tourist area near Beijing, so I could get a more authentic experience. more
Oct 2023,
Consumer
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Awesome personalized tour. Well worth the money.
Lily Liu was our guide. I highly recommend using her. She helped us check out several local places that we absolutely loved and was great at answering all our questions and helping us experience Peking duck, Hawthorne and other things we were curious about. more
Oct 2023,
Jessica P
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Weather in East China (Shanghai, Hangzhou...)
East China becomes wetter as a prelude to the summer monsoon season. Approximately half of the month sees daily drizzle. It is quite windy. Light to moderate breezes are common.
Taking Shanghai as an example — its average temperature range is 5–13°C (41–55°F) and there are typically 14 days of rain amounting to 90 mm (3.5 in) in March.
Clothing: Wear long sleeves, thick trousers, sweaters, and a windproof coat, and take rain gear or an umbrella.
Weather in South China (Guilin, Hong Kong...)
March is the cool/mild, drizzly season in South China. In the south, people begin to take off their thick winter clothes and put on spring clothes.
Taking Guilin as an example: the average temperature range there is 10–17°C (50–63°F) and there are, on average, 19 days of rain adding up to 135 mm (5 in) in March. The daily drizzle builds towards the monsoon rains of May/June.
Clothing: A coat, warm trousers, pullover, and rain gear are adequate.
Weather in West China (Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan...)
In West China, some areas still maintain relatively cold weather, such as Tibet. Due to the celebration of some important festivals, Tibet is routinely closed to foreign visitors in March.
However, some areas have already begun to move into spring with cool/mild temperatures, such as Chengdu and Yunnan.
Clothing: Wear a thin sweater or jacket in the daytime and a thick coat at night.
The Top 5 Places to Visit in March in China
From stunning natural landscapes to vibrant cities, here are the top five places to visit in China in March.
1. Beijing
March brings flowers blooming in parks across the city. The Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven are good places to see flowers, and they are also famous cultural heritage sites in China.
The mild and sunny weather is also good for visiting the Great Wall. Sightseeing, hiking, or camping are all suitable.
There are also relatively few visitors to the Forbidden City at this time of year. You could enjoy a quieter environment and visit the buildings and treasures more closely to learn about the capital's history of emperors.
2. Guilin
Guilin in March offers picturesque views that resemble landscape paintings. With its stunning mountains and rivers, Guilin is an ideal destination for a March visit to China.
Take a cruise down the Li River to appreciate the stunning karst mountains and picturesque waterways, and witness the beauty that inspired traditional Chinese paintings, especially in hazy weather.
Go to the nearby countryside in Yangshuo to see the perfect pastoral scenery. Cycle through the fields, visit the local villagers, experience the farm work, and enjoy a cup of coffee on the balcony of the hotel overlooking the distant flower fields.
3. Yunnan
The province of Yunnan, with its mild and pleasant weather in March, is an ideal destination for those seeking diverse landscapes, vibrant activities, and unique ethnic cultures.
Outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, and mountaineering, are all made more suitable by the good weather.
In March, when flowers are in full bloom, it is also a good idea to learn how to make the local famous flower cakes at a farm. There are also beautiful towns, lakes, and grasslands to explore.
4. Chengdu
It's neither too hot nor too cold in Chengdu in March. The comfortable weather is perfect for sightseeing.
Get up close and personal with adorable giant pandas, experience the vibrant street food scene in Jinli Ancient Street, and relax in one of the traditional teahouses.
- 3-Day Chengdu Giant Panda, Giant Buddha, and Ancient Town Tour
- 4-Day Western Sichuan Tibetan Spring Tour
- 6-Day Essential Chengdu and In-Depth Jiuzhaigou Tour
5. Wuyuan
Wuyuan in March is best for admiring seas of rapeseed flowers. In March, the rapeseed flowers are in full bloom, creating a vibrant yellow landscape that is a treat for the eyes.
You could also explore the villages there. Walk along the ancient paths, step back in time as you wander through the well-preserved traditional houses and streets, and experience the authentic rural lifestyle.
Or you could see our Top Places to Visit in March in China for inspiration.
Crowds and Costs in March
March is still in the low travel season. It is the last month that hotels in major China tourist cities offer low-season prices. Most hotels will raise their prices by 30–40% from April to October.
March also sees fewer crowds at tourist attractions and most cities enjoy pleasant weather.
If you want to arrange a private tour, simply contact us. You'll receive a 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights if you cancel up to 3 weeks before departure. (See more details.)
Tour China with Us
Here are some popular itineraries for China trips. Our tours can be customized according to your interests and requirements.
- 11-Day Tour: Beijing – Xi'an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Shanghai
- 2-Week Beijing – Xi'an – Zhangjiajie – Guilin/Yangshuo – Shanghai Tour
- 2-Week Beijing – Xi'an – Chengdu – Guilin – Hong Kong Tour