November could be an ideal time to travel in China after the peak season crowds head home and before the worst of the chilly winter weather arrives.
You could also appreciate the amazing scenery. Red, gold, yellow, and brown hues create amazing autumnal views and the sky is usually clear in the dry season of fall.
North China may see its first snow but Central and South China have moderate and comfortable temperatures.
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China Weather in November: Overview
- Average daily temperature range: 3–13°C (37–55°F)
- Average rainfall: 29 mm (1 in), low
- Average rainy days: 2
- Average sunny days: 28

Weather in North China (Beijing, Xi'an...)
November is the beginning of the real winter weather in China's northern and high-altitude areas. North China gets crisp, cool, and clear weather.
Beijing gets cool days and it usually stays above freezing at night. The average temperature range is 0–10°C (32–50°F) and there is typically just 1 day of low rainfall, around 13 mm (0.5 in) in November.
Xi'an will be a little warmer than Beijing, averaging 4–13°C (39–55°F). The days are still pleasant and most days are clear.
Clothing: November is cold at night. Wear a coat, gloves, and head covering as well as lighter clothes.
Weather in East China (Shanghai, Hangzhou...)
There are generally cool or warm days and cool nights that are well above freezing in East China.
The comfortable weather and sunshine in the east are great for outdoor activities, sightseeing, and traveling around.
Take Shanghai as an example — the average temperature range is 9–17°C (48–63°F) and there are typically 5 days of low rainfall (42 mm, 1½ in) in November.
Shanghai generally has pleasant autumnal weather and there may be fog in the mornings. However, a cold snap might bring bitter windy weather with it.
Clothing: Wear a jacket, light clothing, and a hat/hood
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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Shanghai- Guide and Tour Review
We arrived in Shanghai China on 10th of November, prior to departing New Zealand, our guide in Shanghai made contact with me to let us know he would meet us at the arrival gate when we land in Shanghai, this made me feel super comfortable as we arrived into a completely new country where we have never travelled to before. He let me know the instructions and when we arrived we were greeted by our guide Kris at the airport arrivals gate. Our driver took us to our hotel where Kris helped us checkin so we could rest as it was early morning. That afternoon Kris met us at our hotel and took us to explore the French Quarter where we had a lovely meal together, later that evening we went to a Chinese acrobat show which Kris recommended, truely a must see experience! more
Nov 2023,
John Morrell
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Shanghai trip with Kris
Kris is a friendly, attentive and knowledgeable tour guide who made sure our short trip in Shanghai was well organised without time wasting. We visited Shanghai Tower, The Bund, French Concession, Yuyuan, and watched the amazing Era Acrobats.Not only was he friendly and helpful, after knowing it was our first trip to China, Kris even went the extra miles and guided us all the way into the high speed rail cabin, to ensure we made no mistake and continued our journey to Hangzhou.I strongly recommend both China Highlights and Kris in Shanghai. more
Nov 2023,
chong777
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Good guide is success of your trip!
Never been to China before. We combined Shanghai masters with sightseeing to get into ancient and modern history of China. The whole experience was great from the first day. Thanks to our guide, Kris, who arranged tickets and helped us to get to the tournament timely although it was his day off and he had to wait us until night. He was cheerful, friendly and quite smart and easy to follow changes we asked. It should be also noted his English was very good so we did not experienced any difficulties with communication. I would definitly recommend Kris as a guide and define him as energetic, communicative, reliable person. Thanks to Kris who made our holiday in China easy, pleasant and remarkable. more
Nov 2023,
Tamar
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Garry’s & Eda’s Visit to Shanghai
We visited Shanghai on the last day of our tour in China. Kris, our guide in Shanghai was there to meet and assist us. We visited the Shanghai Tower, former French concession precinct and walk along the Bund. We even took a boat cruise along the river. It was an enjoyable experience. Kris was very attentive to all our needs. He was such a nice and flamboyant guy that we got along really well throughout the day. We strongly recommend Kris if you are ever in Shanghai. more
Nov 2023,
Eda Adams
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Shanghai Superguide!! Thanks Kris, you the bes!
Kris gave us a five star experience from the beginning. Not only did he show us the amazing city but he had wonderful knowledge of the city and recommended an after hour adventure that was unforgettable! We were quick to connect with Kris, he was very knowledgeable, thoughtful, personal, and fun during our whole stay. I highly recommend him to any visitors!! more
Nov 2023,
Jamie H
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Great Guide, Great Four Days In Shanghai
Our guide Kris was fantastic! He brought us to all the places we set out to see, but also had great suggestions on other places of interest. He was a very helpful interpreter and also went out of his way to make sure we were taken care of and had all of our questions answered. And he was flexible whenever we wanted to make a change. Kris really helped make our 4 days in Shanghai just perfect! more
Nov 2023,
4ontheroadMD
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https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/65410df0cfb8432110ce3539
I was in Shanghai - thanks Kris - we had the best guide in Shanghai!Excellent English and he feels exactly what we needed. He helps us to understand and to like Shanghai. We will be back.Then I went to Huangshan - Thanks Toni - the warmest and the most patient guide! We saw the sunset, we felt the power of Yellow mountain!Then I go to Xian - thanks Jacob - Perfect English and so positive. Xian is wonderful for tourists with guide like Jacob. And I the and I was in Beijing.I had an excellent holiday . more
Nov 2023,
Malina
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Thank you so much Kenny!!
As being China born n raised n lived in Shanghai for many years, I wouldn’t book a tour to visit China. However my friend Amy booked a private tour through ChinaHighlight, for her very first trip to China, i came along, it totally changed my opinion about arranging private tour, absolutely worthwhile! We had a fantastic experience, learnt so many interesting stories about history, arts and culture, our tour guide in Shanghai is Kenny, she is so knowledgeable and caring, and took very nice pictures too! The restaurant she took us to were very yummy, feels local too, we couldn’t thank her enough for the pleasant trip, Amy already planning to visit again in Spring! Oh, almost forgot to mention the cars they arranged are very clean, safe drives too! more
Oct 2023,
venture21609
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I have a very good experience with
I have a very good experience with China Highlights. Very professional in the advisory for my pleasure travel for two weeks in china. Very good and professional guides especially Francisco in Shanghai.And also de follow of all the comunicaciones with me and also.Answering my multiple questions. more
Oct 2023,
Fredy Haber
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Shanghai, a beautiful city with a short but rich history.
Our final day of our 17day holiday in China was spent in Shanghai. We had an expert guide in Kris from China Highlights to show us around this magnificent city.From the rolling skyline to the majestic Huangpu River there is ample scenery in Shanghai but the main feature for travellers at the end of a long journey is the multitude of shopping opportunities to source those necessary mementos of this wonderful country. Everything for every taste and budget is available.Kris showed us the highlights including a ride to the top of the Shanghai tower, the world's second tallest building, as well as the sites that add to the rich history of this city including the Bund and old living sections that depict the lifestyle of the local Shanghai residents. more
Oct 2023,
Matthew C
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Francisco made our trip to China an
Francisco made our trip to China an experience we will never forget. Being in a country with a culture that is so rich and different can be very stressful. Having Francisco as our guide was the best thing that could have happened to us in our trip. And he speaks Spanish!!! Gracias por una aventura inolvidable Francisco! more
Oct 2023,
Hugo
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China Espectacular
Desde un inicio la se?orita Juana Pan nos atendió con prontitud y eficiencia. Nuestro tour era de varios días y requirió de guías que nos ayudaran en el desplazamiento. Siempre estuvieron ahí para recibirnos: Lili, Alonso, Silvia, Francisco, Pablo y otros, nos dieron excelente trato y cuidados durante nuestra estadía en China. Los lugares visitados fueron muy bien seleccionados y los shows q los que asistimos fueron espectaculares. Incluso en días libres se comunicaban por we chat con nosotros. sin duda la mayoría hizo más de lo esperado. more
Oct 2023,
Luis Sandoval Solano
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China Highlights 11 days China Private Tour
We have arrange with China Highlights for a 11 days private tour with English specking guide which include Beijing, Xian, Guilin & Shanghai. Maggie has been very helpful with all our inquiry, services and helping and preparing us for the trip. Our English tour guide Helen (Beijing), Susan (Xian), Vincent & Ellen (Guilin) & Kris (Shanghai) were all very professional, thoughtful, helpful and patience with us.All the places that were arrange suit us very well.China has really change compare 20+ years ago when I was visiting. more
Oct 2023,
John W
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Great trip around Shanghai
This was our first time ever visiting Shanghai so we wanted to see good places to go to and good food to eat in Shanghai. That's why we booked with China Highlights. They're very responsive and quick to arrange our 3 day trip. Our guide name is Qi and she is a very sweet and helpful person. She knew we wanted to explore many local foods, so she brought us some local breakfast foods when she picked us up from our hotel, just so we can try everything! She was knowledgeable as well about the culture and history of the places we went to. Will definitely recommend this tour and use China Highlights again for our next trip to China! more
Sep 2023,
Sherry
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Fantastic first trip in Shanghai
My partner and I were visiting China for the first time. Our tour guide was Martin, who was friendly and very knowledgeable. He adjusted the tour to our needs and gave us an extensive tour of Shanghai as well as many fascinating insights on China. He also went above and beyond and offered us plenty of recommendations on what to do in the evenings, how to get there, and even made bookings for us. Martin, thanks again! more
Sep 2023,
Regis
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Excellent booking and travel planning process.
Roger Li was our booking and travel advisor. As soon as he reached out to me after my initial online inquiry, he conveyed great communication skills and diligence in his work. He always responded quickly and never hesitated in adjusting our itinerary, until we are completely satisfied. He was also very flexible in our requests e.g. tweaking departure city, additional travellers, extra free days. What impressed me most was his (and probably China Highlights') ability to understand the needs of foreign travellers e.g. using WhatsApp and money exchange issues, tips on using WeChat/Alipay when applicable. We have booked our end of year tour now and hope that China Highlights will deliver as well as this initial process! more
Sep 2023,
Catherine Wong
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One day trip to Shanghai with Martin
I liked beautiful riverfront with skyscrapers, especially in the evening. The garden is very nice, lots of walkways makes it feel really big. Thanks to the guide the schedule was very flexible. Instead of waiting in a huge queue for the tv tower we went to nearby skyscraper, we also were able to meet with our friends who also visited Shanghai on the same day. more
Aug 2023,
Dmitry
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We had an amazing trip with China Highlights!
Kris was an excellent tour guide in Shanghai and flexible with our travel plans. Mervyn has impressive knowledge of history and culture in Xi'an and did a stellar job navigating the crowds of tourists seeing the Terra-cotta Army. Cactus brings a depth of historical knowledge to the tours that is super interesting, and she has great enthusiasm that makes the tour enjoyable. All our drivers were very good and helped ensure that we got from one destination to the next as safely and quickly as possible. The air conditioning in the comfortable cars during the exceptionally hot summer was appreciated, as well. Our itinerary included Shanghai, Xi'an, and Beijing, plus a few days trips such as a small water town outside Shanghai and the Terra-cotta Army outside Xi'an. We took high speed trains between all our destinations, and the China Highlights team did everything they could remotely to pre-arrange those logistics and also escorted us as far as they were able to at each train station. We traveled first class whenever the tickets were still available, and we stayed in quality hotels that were clean and centrally-located for most tourist activities in each city. It was maybe the greatest culinary trip of our lives. :) more
Aug 2023,
Brett N
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Kris from China Highlights in Shanghai was wonderful
We toured Shanghai with Kris from China Highlights as our guide, he was friendly, helpful and made the trip a lot of fun! He also went above and beyond when we traveled to my daughter’s birthplace helping to get information and connect with people from the orphanage where my daughter was adopted from.Highly recommend!! more
Aug 2023,
Rita A
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Personalized and very memorable!
Kris with China Highlights was friendly and personable during our trip. He told us the history of Shanghai in an interesting way, and gave us great recommendations to avoid crowds but still see the highlights of Shanghai. He also traveled with us to the city I was born and was very helpful in helping us communicate with locals. He made sure we had a memorable and very special experience. more
Aug 2023,
Annie A
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Weather in South China (Guilin, Hong Kong...)
South China's temperature is comfortable at about 20°C (68°F) during the daytime. There is still some rainfall in November, so it won't be too dry.
Take Guilin as an example — the average temperature range is 11–19°C (52–66°F) in November.
Hong Kong benefits from warm and sunny weather, which is ideal for outdoor activities, sightseeing, and shopping in the street markets. There is little rain. November and December are the most pleasant months.
Clothing: The weather is changeable in most of the region. It is generally warm but it can get cold unexpectedly. You would need warm weather clothing and a jacket.
Weather in West China (Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan...)
In most areas, the temperature falls significantly — it gets cold and the mountains receive snow. There are usually no rainy days in November in West China.
The average temperature range in Lhasa is -3–15°C (27–59°F) and there are usually completely clear days in November.
Chengdu's temperature is 9–16°C (48–61°F) and there are typically 4 days of low rainfall (16 mm, 0.5 in) in November.
Yunnan has a large temperature difference between day and night. During the day, the temperature is warm at about 20°C (68°F). However, it has cold nights that are just above freezing.
Clothing: The weather is changeable in most of the region. It is generally warm, but it can get cold unexpectedly. You would need warm weather clothing and a jacket.
Top 6 Places to Visit in China in November
Autumn scenery and leisurely outdoor activities are highlights of traveling in China in November.
If you enjoy landscapes, destinations like Huangshan and Guilin are excellent choices. Outdoor activities, such as hiking on the Great Wall, are also well-suited for November.
For urban experiences and culture coupled with pleasant weather, Shanghai and Hong Kong are good choices.
1. Shanghai
Shanghai is quiet in November, with a charming blend of autumnal colors and urban vibrancy.
The plane trees on both sides of the streets turn a golden hue, complemented by the gentle breeze and warm sunlight, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll in the former French Concession. You could see almost all of the architectural styles of old Shanghai there. There are also numerous cafés and museums.
As for the unmissable Bund, compared to a simple sightseeing trip for photo shoots, an in-depth walking tour, which we offer, with a local guide would take you into some old buildings and help you understand the stories behind them.
At night, we could carefully select a hotel with a rooftop bar for you. There, you could leisurely enjoy the night view of the Bund and the moon with a glass of wine.
2. Hong Kong
The weather in Hong Kong in November is comfortable without the dry heat and humidity of summer.
The drop in visitors and prices during the off-season makes November a good time to visit Hong Kong.
The milder temperatures make exploring the city's neighborhoods and bustling markets a pleasant affair. Whether it's a leisurely stroll along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade or a visit to the markets of Mong Kok, November offers a comfortable backdrop for urban exploration.
Victoria Harbour, a centerpiece of the city, glistens under the gentle sunlight, reflecting the towering buildings that stand along its shores.
Lantau Island's natural beauty shines during this time of year. The cable car ride up to Ngong Ping offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and seascape. The iconic Tian Tan Buddha stands serenely amid the changing foliage, inviting visitors to find solace in the tranquil surroundings.
3. Huangshan
November also brings fewer crowds to the Yellow Mountains, allowing you to immerse yourself in the serenity of the mountains and fully appreciate the tranquility of the surroundings.
The crisp air carries a hint of winter, enhancing the clarity of the panoramic views.
November is one of the best times to see the seas of clouds between the Yellow Mountain peaks. As you ascend, misty veils often shroud the peaks, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
The granite peaks, twisted pines, and iconic stone pathways appear to float amid the seas of clouds, making for a truly otherworldly experience.
Bishan Village is also a highlight. You could walk around the village to see how artists have turned this small area into a rural utopia.
If you are interested in craftsmanship and Chinese culture, we recommend the experience of making traditional Chinese lanterns. It could be a great souvenir to take home.
4. Guilin
November is a good time to explore the Guilin countryside, revealing charming villages and rice terraces that seem to glow in the autumn light.
The terraced fields, adorned with their golden harvest, create a patchwork quilt of colors that stretches into the distance.
Beyond the natural beauty, its cultural experiences also beckon. Visit a minority family and enjoy lunch with them. You could see how local dishes are cooked, such as how to cook rice inside a bamboo tube and the process of making oil tea.
For a leisurely experience, take a Li River cruise. The Li River meanders gracefully through this stunning backdrop, reflecting the striking peaks and lush vegetation along its banks.
5. Beijing
The Great Wall and the Forbidden City, which are must-see attractions, have fewer tourists in November, which is undoubtedly one of the biggest advantages of visiting Beijing at this time.
Views of the Great Wall are still good in November. The Great Wall weaves through forests displaying their fall colors. The watchtowers and battlements seem to emerge from the foliage, offering breathtaking vistas that span the horizon.
You could explore the old hutong area where you could visit a local family. From talking to them, you would get a local perspective on the area's history and the way of life.
If you want an exceptional night out in Beijing, you could start a food tour. From hidden snack bars in the hutongs to street-side shops that are popular with locals to renowned roast duck restaurants, you could sample Beijing's signature snacks, dishes, drinks, and desserts.
6. Tibet
Visiting Tibet in November allows you to take full advantage of the off-peak season, benefiting from more affordable prices and a less crowded travel experience.
It's a time to witness the resilience of both nature and the local people in the face of the changing seasons and to appreciate the raw and untamed magnificence of Tibet's landscapes.
You could pay a visit to the Potala Palace and stroll along Barkhor Street, following in devout pilgrims' footsteps and experiencing the profound Buddhist ambiance of Tibet. There, you could also imbibe the daily rhythms of Tibetan life at a local market.
Lakes, such as Yamdrok Lake and Namtso Lake, which are usually surrounded by snow-capped peaks, can be frozen over during November, adding an extra layer of enchantment to their already stunning beauty.
Costs and Crowds in November
November is the low season for Chinese tourism, so you could benefit as prices decrease substantially from what they were during the high season.
Typically-crowded attractions reach a state of calm in November. Together with the cool, dry weather, November is a really good time to travel.
Recommended China Tours
We could solve the problem of planning a complex trip in an unfamiliar region for you, saving you time and effort while ensuring that your travel needs and desires are met. Just contact us to book a tour by telling us your requirements.
When booking with us, you would receive a 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights if you cancel up to 3 weeks before departure. (See more on our cancelation policy.)
All of our tours can be adjusted or customized based on your requirements. See some of our popular itineraries for inspiration:
- 13-Day Shanghai–Chengdu–Xi'an–Pingyao–Beijing Tour
- 12-Day Shanghai – Beijing – Hong Kong – Guangzhou – Zhangjiajie Tour
- 16-Day Beijing – Xi'an – Chengdu – Kunming – Guilin – Hong Kong Tour