China's weather in May is pleasant with a relatively plentiful amount of sunshine and warm temperatures throughout China.
There is a stretch of warm, fairly dry weather before the summer heat and rains set in. May is one of the best times for traveling and sightseeing in China.
Read on for more about China's weather in May and our travel suggestions.
Content Preview
China Weather in May: Overview
- Average daily temperature range: 14–25°C (57–77°F), mild to warm
- Average rainfall: 101 mm (4 in), moderate
- Average rainy days: 7
- Average sunny days: 24

Weather in North China (Beijing, Xi'an...)
In North China, spring is at its best in May. The natural scenery is green and filled with flowers, and the weather is moderate. Although it is cool at night, the daytime temperatures are very comfortable for outdoor activities.
Taking Beijing as an example — the average temperature range is 14–26°C (57–79°F) and there are eight rainy days totaling 36 mm (1.5 in).
The blue sky may be seen in cities such as Beijing which rarely have blue sky during the rest of the year.
Clothing: A pullover or light jacket should be enough during the day.
China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.


![]() ![]() |
Olivia Tian, a sunshine tour guide!
In October, my friend Amy booked a tour with Chinahighlights, Olivia Tian was our guide in Beijing, she is such a sweet n happy person to be around, not only she gave us the best guide service, also very accommodating, alter the plan as per our interest, took us to very local shopping n food district. Above all, she takes awesome pics, very patient!! Thank you so much for such pleasant 5 days in BJ, look forward to see you when we are back in China, Olivia!! more
Dec 2023,
Venture216019
|
One whole of a good experience !
Kevin was always making flexible arrangements for us making sure we meet our needs. Kevin also walked us to our desired restaurant daily making sure all are well before he left. Kudos to the whole team. Highly recommend ? more
Dec 2023,
Cornelius C
|
China is Amazing Wonders that do not stop coming at you.Great country
Great job,Loved every minute of it,Ethan did an amazing job,True Ambassador of China,Just like the Chinese people,Friendly, dignified and hardworking,Very happy.China Highlights exceeded expectations and then some,I will never even think of travelling with another company. more
Dec 2023,
Philip Sardar /Maps10321171537
|
Wonderful trip to Beijing and Xian
Had a great trip to bejing n xian. Our guide lily liu is so well versed in english and we have no worry here at all. We managed to dine in great halal restaurants though out our trip. Highly reccomended to all muslims travellers. more
Dec 2023,
Efen Reyes
|
Great experience, highly recommended!
Additionally, she helped me with all my personal needs like getting a SIM card, finding an ATM, shopping, dining, checking in at the train station, hotel, suggested a couple additional very entertaining art events. Was also punctual and spoke good English. more
Nov 2023,
Wayne S.
|
Excellent tour with Tom from China Highlights
We used China Highlights for the 3 days of our Beijing trip. Tom was a fantastic guide. Very knowledgable with excellent English. He was able to accommodate changes to our tour at short notice, allowing us to make the most of our limited time. Couldn’t recommend highly enough more
Nov 2023,
Ross
|
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
|
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
|
Great Experience from start to finish!
Jack was my guide and his local knowledge and English skills were fantastic. He was punctual, friendly and willing to flex as we went about our tour. Couldn’t recommend China Highlights more! more
Nov 2023,
Scott Smith
|
Family tour
Helen in Beijing - thanks for paying great attention to details, for your small surprises for the children every day, for selecting amazing restaurants, and leading wonderful walking tours. Your cheerfulness added to our enjoyment. more
Nov 2023,
Kamila
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
Our first trip to Beijing
Our tour guide was Lucy Yubo. She was awesome. Very friendly, informative and passionate about her job. We really enjoyed her company and guidance. more
Nov 2023,
Sreelatha Reddy
|
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
|
Excellent end to end service
Helen is a positive, full of knowledge, experienced guide.She provided us an implacable service abd experience for 3 days .Highly recommended more
Nov 2023,
Sariel Engel
|
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.
|
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
|
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
|
Weather in East China (Shanghai, Hangzhou...)
East China has more rain than the north. Expect high humidity but pleasantly warm weather with moderate rainfall before the beginning of the summer monsoon season in June.
Taking Shanghai as an example — the average temperature range is 16–23°C (61–73°F) and there are 17 rainy days bringing a moderate 112 mm (4.5 in) of rain.
Clothing: Wear T-shirts, light trousers, and a jacket, and take a light waterproof or an umbrella.
Weather in South China (Guilin, Hong Kong...)
South China starts its long summer in May. Cities in the southern region are quite hot during the daytime. Guilin gets its monsoon rain early — the average temperature range is 20–27°C (68–81°F) and there are 23 rainy days amounting to an extremely high 341 mm (13 in) of rain.
You can wear T-shirts and shorts most of the time at this time of year. You may encounter rainy days in May, but it usually rains early in the morning and at night, so your trip won't be affected too much.
The warm weather also means that you don't need to take very much luggage.
Clothing: Wear T-shirts, shorts, and a light water-resistant jacket, and take an umbrella.
Weather in West China (Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan...)
May is one of the best months for visiting the dry western regions as it is warmer without the high temperatures of the summer heat. It might rain for a short time but this won't affect your trip.
Cities at high altitudes enjoy a big temperature difference between the daytime and nighttime. Take Lhasa as a particularly dry example — the average temperature range is 6–20°C (43–68°F) and there are 9 days with a little rain — a semi-arid 27 mm (1 in).
Clothing: Pack a coat, some jackets, T-shirts, shorts, a hat, and sunglasses.
The Top 7 Places to Visit in May
May is a comfortable time to visit anywhere in China. In addition to the following destinations, you can tell us if you have any other destinations you want to go to. Our tours are customized. The itinerary will be tailored to your requirements.
1. Guilin
In May, the mountains around Guilin are covered with lush greenery, and colorful flowers add charm to the scenery.
It's a great time to visit the Longji Rice Terraces in Guilin when the terraced fields are irrigated but not yet obscured by growing rice.
You will see fantastic views of flooded fields reflecting the sky, and the ancient minority villages on the mountains will be shrouded in mist and fog.
Exploring the countryside by cycling in Yangshuo and appreciating the blossoms are also good to experience the vibrant springtime.
2. Beijing
May is one of the best times to visit the Great Wall. When the trees and plants turn green, the Wall snakes its way through lush vegetation.
If you like adventure, you could hike on a wild Great Wall section or experience camping on the Great Wall.
The stable and warm spring weather also makes visiting the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Summer Palace a good experience.
3. Xi'an
Xi'an enjoys warm and comfortable weather in May too. The comfortable daytime temperatures make a bicycle trip on the Xi'an City Wall a very pleasant experience.
A visit to the Terracotta Army is not to be missed. You could also experience making a mini clay warrior yourself with us.
Additionally, we recommend going to the Muslim Quarter to taste a variety of local food.
China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.


![]() ![]() |
Xi’an
During our trip around China, we spent three days in Xi'an. Thanks to our wonderful guide, Susan, who took us to visit the most beautiful places, explaining additional details about the dynasties. We especially enjoyed the Terracotta Warriors, where we had the chance to create one at a local workshop. Susan was very attentive; she tried to find a restaurant where everyone was happy with the food and found a pizza for our little son. She even made a gift for our daughter—a beautiful hairpin. Very positive experience! more
Dec 2023,
Kamilya1818
|
Excellent Guide.
Jenny helped explain a lot of historical facts made us appreciate the Chinese civilisation a lot more. Want to know more after leaving. more
Nov 2023,
772lauw
|
Great time with a wonderful guide!
Wonderful time with a great guide. Ken is very knowledgeable, most helpful, with near perfect English. We visited stunning locations and learned much from him. Nothing was too much trouble for Ken. We had a perfect stay. more
Nov 2023,
George123w2014
|
Family tour
Thank you to our guide in Xi'an, Susan, for being very creative in preparing tours, for a beautiful handmade gift to our daughter, for your kindness and attention! more
Nov 2023,
Kamila
|
Xi'an tour
Jenny is an excellent guide, so knowledgeable and easy to talk with. Her driver was also excellent. We spent 3 days together seeing the highlights of Xi'an and dining together. We hit a cold spell so she gave us two neck scarves, which was an unexpected treat. If you come to China, ask for Jenny. Highly recommended! more
Nov 2023,
CNN N
|
Memorable Tour with Susan
Susan gave us a great tour of Xi’an. She has a genuine interest in Chinese culture and history and took us to sites and restaurants where locals go. She was flexible with plans and made some great recommendations and because of that, we did even more than we originally expected. Thank you to Susan for a wonderful experience. Xi’an was definitely one of the highlights of our tour and we will tell everyone about your beautiful and historically-rich city, Xi’an. more
Nov 2023,
grei
|
Awesome Guide and Experience!
We have been travelling through China since the 10th of November. Prior to departing Shanghai, our guide in Xi’an made contact with me to let us know she would meet us at the arrival gate as we took the train from Shanghai, this made me feel super comfortable as we arrived into a completely new city. She let me know the instructions on where to meet her when we get off the train, when we arrived we were greeted by our guide Jenny at the gate.We were then taken to our car, met our driver for the duration of our stay Mr Chu!After arriving at our hotel Jenny helped us checkin and then we dropped our bags off to explore the main square of Xi’an and find some dinner as we arrived in the evening.The next day Jenny met us with our driver Mr. Chu at the hotel reception and took us to visit the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses followed by Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the afternoon, Jenny’s knowledge and explanation of both these activities were amazing and we learned so much from her. Later that evening she recommended a traditional Chinese show and dumpling banquet which we thoroughly enjoyed.The second day Jenny took us to the Xi’an City Wall where we were able to ride a bike along the top, we then went to a local house and made dumplings for lunch before she accompanied us to the train station where we were sad to say our goodbyes but very thankful for our time with Jenny and Mr. Chu.We are coming to an end of trip, returning to home to New Zealand. If you need a guide who has a great command of the English language, friendly and knowledgeable then please request Jenny as your tour guide through China Highlights! more
Nov 2023,
John M
|
Wonderful Experience in Xi’an with Mervyn
Mervyn was a wonderful tour guide for our trip to Xi’an! She showed us the amazing food that the city offers and the important history this city contains. Both my father enjoyed trying the fresh pomegranate juice and the Muslim food court. She helped make our trip enjoyable and simple! Thank you Mervyn :) more
Nov 2023,
Angelica Moreno
|
Great Fun Tour with Mervyn!
Mervyn was a wonderful tour guide for our trip to Xi’an! She showed us the amazing food that the city offers and the important history this city contains. She helped make our trip enjoyable and simple! Thank you Mervyn :) more
Nov 2023,
Angelica M
|
Fantastic 3 days in Xian
I had a fantastic time visiting Xian over 3 days with Ken, I got to see so many sights in a short space of time, the highlight being the Terra cotta warriors. Ken was an amazing guide and explained each place really well with loads of much detail and was so helpful with any questions I had. Ken brought me to some amazing hidden restaurants I would not be able to try otherwise, I loved all the food we tried. I would recommend Ken to anyone thinking of going to Xian more
Nov 2023,
David
|
My husband and I completed the 8 day…
My husband and I completed the 8 day tour with Mervin (xi’an), and Qi (shanghai). Their knowledge and assistance with transportation, translation, and history of China made this trip extremely relaxing. The drivers were all very friendly and professional. more
Nov 2023,
US
|
A Truly Amazing Experience
An amazing experience. Given China Highlights’ reputation, I had high hopes for the logistics of the tour. The reality, however, far exceeded my expectations. From arrival to departure, and all points in between, the tour was executed with precision. I stood in awe, gazing at the terracotta warriors; my wife and I strolled along the city wall. The warmth and friendliness of the locals were exceeded only by the knowledge, experience and genuine humanity of our guide, Jenny. China is amazing. While the historic sights are world attractions, I found its people to be the greatest treasure. Thank you China Highlights. Thank you Jenny. more
Nov 2023,
Mark W
|
Wonderful time in Xi'an with a great guide
Visiting best museums, tourist attractions areas and historical sites with excellent guidance by Mervyn. She arranged everything in advance for our family so we spent very unforgettable time in Xi'an in three days.If you want to discover more about chinese history i would highly recommend Xi'an tour and my tour guide Mervyn to anyone visiting china. more
Nov 2023,
burge c
|
Wow! Did not know China’s historical depth and culture.
Xi’an is an incredible historical city. Our guide Mervyn from China Highlights was extremely knowledgeable, informative and helpful. Very attentive to our needs and went above and beyond to take care of us. Exceptional service and care from the heart. more
Nov 2023,
Tony S
|
Xian - Thank you Ken for making this our most memorable and favoured place to visit
Ken our tour guide really made Xian our most favoured and memorable stop in China . Not only is Xian filled with extra-ordinary history it has wonderful diversity with culture old and new . Ken's genuine care and responsibility to us whilst visiting Xian was truly felt with close planning with our driver and Carol Wang encompassing flexibility , which made our trip smooth and comfortable from time of pick up to our departure. Ken has a wonderful and welcoming nature to him . His knowledge of Chinese history is deep and profound , his patience and professionalism to explain things has made a mark on our family as he would reflect the gold standard for tour guides. We are truly grateful to Ken and China highlights team and would recommend this to people visiting Xian! more
Nov 2023,
Marian C
|
1 day Xi'an tour
Despite my schedule only allowing for 1 day in Xi'an, Mervyn my guide was able to give me a fantastic experience in visiting both the Terracotta Warriors and making time for the old city too since she's hugely knowledgeable and great company. Great visit all round. more
Nov 2023,
Voyager816706
|
Amazing experience in Xian
Xian was just amazing. We had a great tour guide, Jenny. Jenny spoke excellent English. Not only was she friendly, she was flexible too. She was able to reschedule our visit to the Terracotta warriors to the following day due to my hubby not feeling too well. She also helped get flu medicine for him. Very knowledgeable in Qin Dynasty history, she certainly made our trip very enjoyable. more
Nov 2023,
Dell
|
Special thanks to Susan
This is my 2nd time in Xi An, My friend arranged a private tour through China highlight, it definitelymakes a huge difference with a tourguide! China highlight arranges all the tour guides and drivers for four cities for us, so convenient, saved us lot of time . Susan is our tour guide in Xi An, she is very responsible and took great care of us, she is knowledgeable about Xi An’s history, shared many fun stories, very impressive, obviously she loves n so good at what she does! We had great time in Xi An, the Xi A food is very delicious, Susan took us to the restaurant seems all were very popular among locals. Thank you so much, Susan, without you, our trip won’t be as funn efficient. more
Nov 2023,
Venture216019
|
Must see in China - Terracota Warriors
Terracota Warriors were in our bucket list and it did not disappoint. Our guide in Xian was Ken, a very knowledgeable person with perfect English. I have been using China Highlights for the last ten years and will continue to do so for future travels. more
Oct 2023,
Copan
|
Ken was the best guide in Xi’an!
Ken in Xi’an was the best guide we had during our stay in China. He was super knowledgeable and curious, added a bunch of extra tips and information that really helped us understand what we were seeing and meant we made the most of our free time as well as the time with him. Not to mention his English is perfect! We had the most wonderful time thanks to him!! more
Oct 2023,
Inspire03097093187
|
4. Tibet
Lhasa has good weather in May. It is mild and sunny with low rainfall. The flowers are in bloom and the trees are green.
As the temperature range is cool to mild, it's a great time to visit remote attractions, such as Everest Base Camp and Lake Yamdrok.
Experience the Tibetan spirit and Buddhism by visiting the Potala Palace and monasteries, such as Sera Monastery, and watching a unique monks' debate.
5. Zhangjiajie
May is the start of the rainy season in Zhangjiajie, yielding its misty scenery of "floating mountains". As the plants and trees have new green leaves and blooming flowers, its National Forest Park is especially worth exploring.
Try bungee jumping off the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, bike around the beautiful and non-touristy side of Tianmen Mountain, and enjoy the scenery on and off the beaten path route.
6. The Silk Road
Exploring the Silk Road during May is a fascinating and historically enriching experience.
The pleasant weather during May is ideal for visiting deserts and exploring the Zhangye National Geopark.
The scenery of Qinghai Lake is also at its best. Along the lake, vast fields of rapeseed flowers bloom, creating a beautiful contrast of yellow flowers against the endless blue waters.
A visit to the Mogao Caves is a must to admire intricate and early Buddhist art. Additionally, you could experience the unique cultural charm of Xinjiang by visiting local bazaars and towns.
7. Yunnan
May is a fantastic time to visit Yunnan as the weather is mild and pleasant with blooming flowers and lush greenery. It also offers a wide range of outdoor activities.
Explore the old town of Lijiang, pay a visit to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and experience the unique Naxi culture in the quaint villages at the foot of the mountains.
Hike through breathtaking Tiger Leaping Gorge and visit the ancient city of Dali, known for its Bai ethnic heritage.
Marvel at the magnificent stone forest formations near Kunming and discover the enchanting terraced fields of Yuanyang.
Crowds and Costs in May
As the summer crowds haven't arrived yet, May is one of the best times for traveling in China.
But it's important to note that the first week of May can be crowded because there is a 1-week Labor Day holiday. Hotel and airfare prices increase by 50% to 100% during this time.
If your time is flexible and you don't like having a crowded travel experience, we recommend that you avoid this week (around the May 1–5 holiday).
May 1–5 Travel Tips

Make your reservations as early as possible (6 months or more in advance is best) for this holiday, as hotels, transport, and attractions can be sold out quickly.
Book a trip with a travel agency. It will make your trip more efficient in the crowds of May Day: using the travel agency entrance or VIP service means that you'll enjoy less queuing time, a private car is much more efficient, and a private tour can introduce some interesting hidden routes away from the crowds.
Crowds are expected, especially in popular tourist cities. But you could choose a less-traveled route, such as Western Sichuan, the Silk Road, Inner Mongolia, or a Yangtze River cruise.
Recommended China Tours
All of our tours can be customized or adjusted based on your requirements. Feel free to tell us your ideas to create your itinerary. Or you could see our popular China tours for inspiration:
- Family Happiness — 11-Day Beijing – Xi'an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Shanghai Tour
- The Golden Triangle — 8-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai Highlights Tour
- Land of Pandas — 2-Week Beijing – Xi'an – Chengdu – Yangtze Cruise – Shanghai Tour