Climate Preference
China is a vast country with wide-ranging climatic conditions, so a decision about the best time to visit should be based on the regions you plan to tour and the kind of weather you enjoy.
Normally, the most comfortable season of the year is early autumn (September to early October). During that period, temperatures are reasonable throughout China (about 50-72F) with a limited amount of rain. September for example is the only month in the year when the ancient and valuable paintings of the Beijing Palace Museum are displayed due to proper climate conditions (low humidity and proper temperature).
Spring can also be delightful with the average temperatures roughly the same as in autumn (about 50-72F). The best way to deal with weather unpredictability is to wear layered clothing that will make you comfortable in both chilly and warm weather.
Summer (from June to the end of August) can be extremely hot with temperatures well above 72F, especially in the famous 'four furnaces' of China: Wuhan, Tianjin, Chongqing and Nanchang.
Summer is also a rainy season, so travelers should not forget umbrellas, light raincoats and rubber/plastic shoes.
Winter can be incredibly cold especially in the north. Off season travel can also offer its rewards. For example, the Harbin Winter Ice Lantern Festival is quite charming.
Before deciding when to take a tour, it is worth checking carefully the China weather conditions of each city on the itinerary. Needless to say that the most attractive seasons to visit are also the most crowded. Regardless of the time of the year, a visitor will always be rewarded with charming scenery throughout China.
High Season vs Low Season
High seasons in China:
◆Labor Day (May 1, 3 days duration)
◆National Day (October 1, 7 days duration)
◆University Holidays: Summer holiday (June-September) and Winter holiday (January-February)
Many people plan a trip during high seasons. However it is not always the best choice. During high seasons tickets for trains, planes, as well as accommodations at hotels are hard to obtain, as great numbers of people travel during these times. It is highly recommended to join an organized tour if you must travel during high seasons, as doing so will certainly relieve you from the difficulties of obtaining tickets.
Compared with high seasons, low seasons couldn't be a better choice for traveling. They offer you the following merits:
◆Saving money. In low seasons, the related costs will be much lower than during the peak seasons. Entrance fees, travel ticket prices, and the goods sold in the places of interest will all cost less.
◆ Saving time. Low seasons offer you a more tranquil environment rather than a noisy, crowded place. It may take several hours to take a photo during peak time, while in low seasons you can enjoy yourself in the beautiful scenery without any interference.
Festival Preference
China is a great country with numerous nationalities and each nationality has their own festivals. Should you be a Chinese culture lover, come to China during the time the festival you wish to see is happening.
Nearly each Chinese festival has its own legend and history. Please explore more details about Chinese festivals and determine your trip itinerary based on your favorite ones.
China Weathe
China can be visited through out the year because of the stretch of its territories and sites and activities it can offer. Deciding when to visit China depends on which places you wish to visit, what type of weather you enjoy, and how much a bargain you want. China is a huge country with many different climates and types of landscape. Think of it in terms of the United States, which China resembles in size and shape. Traveling along the Golden Route (Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin) is like visiting New York, Chicago, Santa Fe, and Jacksonville, Florida all in one trip.
April, May, September and October are the peak tourist months at China’s most popular destinations when the weather is the most comfortable. Prices drop a bit in the shoulder season, which runs from November through March and from June through August. However, the winter months are peak season for trips to China’s Hainan Island and to the Northeast Harbin for its world-famous ice-lantern festival. This months are also packed with New Year holidays, Chinese Spring Festival and other national or local happy fairs. Summer months are great time to explore China’s Far East-Manchuria.
China has a continental and seasonal climate. Most parts are in the temperate zone but southern areas are in the tropical or subtropical zone while northern areas are in the frigid zone. Climates in different areas are complicated. For instance, northern Heilongjiang Province has a winter climate the year round without summer, while Hainan Island has a summer climate the year round without winter. The following is a reference table for tourists to prepare clothing on their trips.
· Spring: 10-22°C, Western suits, jackets, sports coats, woolen jackets, long sleeve shirts and travel shoes.
· Summer: 22°C and above, T-shirts, short sleeve shirts, skirts, sandals, caps, rain wear.
· Autumn: 10-22°C, Western suits, jackets, sports coats, light woolen sweaters, rain wear and travel shoes.
· Winter: 10°C or lower, overcoat, cotton clothes, lined coats. In very cold areas a cap, gloves and cotton-padded shoes are required.
|
CITY |
JAN |
FEB |
MAR |
APR |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL |
AUG |
SEP |
OCT |
NOV |
DEC |
|
Beijing |
-4.1
25 |
-1.6
29 |
4.9
41 |
13.6
57 |
20.0
68 |
25.2
77 |
27.9
82 |
26.6
80 |
20.3
69 |
12.7
55 |
4.2
40 |
-2.2
28 |
|
Chengde |
-9.2
15 |
-5.5
22 |
2.1
36 |
11.5
53 |
18.4
65 |
22.3
72 |
24.3
76 |
22.8
73 |
17.1
63 |
10.0
50 |
0.4
33 |
-7.2
19 |
|
Chengdu |
5.5
42 |
7.4
45 |
11.7
53 |
16.7
62 |
20.9
70 |
23.6
75 |
25.3
78 |
24.9
77 |
21.2
70 |
16.7
62 |
11.4
53 |
7.1
45 |
|
Chongqing |
7.5
46 |
9.1
48 |
13.8
57 |
18.4
65 |
21.8
71 |
24.7
77 |
28.3
83 |
28.3
83 |
23.4
74 |
18.4
65 |
13.6.
57 |
9.1
48 |
|
Dalian |
-4.5
24 |
-2.9
27 |
2.4
36 |
9.5
49 |
15.6
60 |
19.7
67.0 |
23.0
73 |
24.0
76 |
20.0
68 |
13.7
57 |
5.8
42 |
-1.0
30 |
|
Datong |
-11.0
12 |
-7.4
19 |
0
32 |
8.5
47 |
15.7
60 |
19.9
68 |
21.8
71 |
20.0
68 |
14.4
58 |
7.5
45 |
-1.4
29 |
-8.8
16 |
|
Guangzhou |
13.2
56 |
14.1
58 |
17.8
64 |
22.0
72 |
25.6
78 |
27.4
81 |
28.7
84 |
28.5
83 |
27.1
81 |
23.8
75 |
19.3
67 |
15.1
59 |
|
Guilin |
7.8
46 |
9.0
48 |
12.9
55 |
18.5
65 |
23.0
73 |
26.2
79 |
28.1
83 |
27.8
82 |
25.5
78 |
20.5
69 |
15.2
59 |
10.2
50 |
|
Hangzhou |
3.9
39 |
5.2
42 |
9.3
48 |
15.4
59 |
20.3
69 |
24.3
76 |
28.5
83 |
27.9
82 |
23.3
74 |
17.7
64 |
12.2
54 |
6.3
43 |
|
HongKong |
15.8
60 |
15.9
61 |
18.5
65 |
22.2
72 |
25.9
79 |
27.8
82 |
28.8
84 |
28.4
83 |
27.6
81 |
25.2
77 |
21.4
70 |
17.6
64 |
|
Huangshan |
-2.8
27 |
-1.6
29 |
2.3
36 |
7.7
46 |
11.9
53 |
14.9
59 |
17.6
64 |
17.3
63 |
13.7
57 |
9.2
48 |
4.0
39 |
-0.6
31 |
|
Kunming |
7.9
46 |
10.0
50 |
13.2
56 |
16.6
62 |
19.1
67 |
19.6
67 |
19.7
67 |
19.0
66 |
17.2
63 |
14.6
58 |
11.1
52 |
8.0
46 |
|
Lhasa |
-2.1
28 |
0.9
34 |
4.5
40 |
8.1
46 |
11.8
53 |
15.7
60 |
15.3
59 |
14.4
58 |
12.7
55 |
8.2
46 |
2.1
36 |
-1.6
29 |
|
Luoyang |
0.4
33 |
2.7
37 |
8.4
47 |
15.4
59 |
21.2
70 |
26.3
79 |
27.3
81 |
26.0
79 |
21.1
70 |
15.3
59 |
8.3
47 |
2.3
36 |
|
Nanjing |
2.1
36 |
3.9
39 |
8.5
47 |
15.0
59 |
20.1
68 |
24.6
77 |
27.9
82.0 |
27.4
81 |
22.4
72 |
16.6
62 |
10.2
50 |
4.3
40 |
|
Qingdao |
0.7
31 |
-0.4
31 |
4.7
40 |
10.5
51 |
15.9
60 |
20.0
68 |
23.8
75 |
25.2
77 |
21.5
70 |
16.1
61 |
8.9
48 |
2.0
35 |
|
Sanya |
21.2
70 |
22.2
72 |
24.2
76 |
26.6
79 |
28.3
83 |
28.5
83 |
28.5
83 |
28.0
82 |
27.3
81 |
26.1
79 |
24.2
76 |
21.9
71 |
|
Shanghai |
4.7
40 |
8.2
46 |
13.4
56 |
18.5
65 |
22.9
73 |
27.2
81 |
27.5
82 |
24.1
76 |
18.8
66 |
12.8
55.0 |
6.9
44 |
4.0
39 |
|
Suzhou |
3.2
38 |
4.3
40 |
8.6
47 |
14.5
58 |
19.6
67 |
23.8
75 |
28.0
82 |
27.7
82 |
23.1
73 |
17.7
64 |
11.9
53 |
5.6
42 |
|
Urumqi |
-13.9
7 |
-11.6
11 |
-1.8
29 |
9.8
50 |
16.9
62 |
21.8
71 |
24.2
76 |
22.7
73 |
16.7
62 |
7.6
46 |
-3.1
26 |
-11
12 |
|
Wuhan |
3.2
38 |
5.2
42 |
9.8
50 |
16.3
61 |
21.5
71 |
25.6
78 |
28.7
84 |
28.2
83 |
23.2
73 |
17.4
63 |
11.2
52 |
5.4
42 |
|
Wuxi |
2.8
37 |
4.0
39 |
8.4
47 |
14.4
58 |
19.6
67 |
23.8
75 |
28.0
82 |
27.6
82 |
22.8
73 |
17.2
63 |
11.3
52 |
5.0
41 |
|
Xiamen |
13.0
55 |
13.4
56 |
15.5
60 |
19.7
67 |
23.2
73 |
25.9
79 |
27.6
82 |
27.2
81 |
25.5
78 |
22.2
72 |
18.6
65 |
14.6
58 |
|
Xian |
-0.5
31 |
2.5
37 |
8.4
47 |
14.6
59 |
19.6
67 |
25.0
77 |
26.4
80 |
24.8
77 |
19.0
66 |
13.3
56 |
6.3
43 |
0.7
33 |
|
CITY |
JAN |
FEB |
MAR |
APR |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL |
AUG |
SEP |
OCT |
NOV |
DEC |
|
