China climate - The Great Wall of China

Best time to visit China

China is a great place to visit all year round. However the best time to visit are the months April - May and September- October; during the spring and the fall. The weather is most suitable for travel during these periods: average temperatures, little rain and additionally, you'll be avoiding some of the crowds by not travelling during peak tourist season. 

The north-western part of China, where Beijing is located, is known for its dry, hot summers and long, cold winters. During the summer temperatures rise to about 30 degrees Celsius and it's not much cooler in the evenings. Central China has hot, humid summers. Higher altitude locations are much more pleasant. 

Southern China has a subtropical climate with precipitation spread out over each month. The summers are long, hot and humid and the winters are cool, yet short. The island of Hainan has a tropical climate and conditions are excellent for spending a day on the beach anytime of year. 

 

From time-to-time China is hit by tropical cyclones. However China is such a large country that you aren't very likely to encounter one of these storms. 

Our winter months are the most peaceful months in China. Up north it's cold, Beijing's daytime temperatures are usually around freezing, however the sky is a beautiful blue and it's a great time to take pictures. South-western China (Sichuan and Yunnan provinces) has mild temperatures in the lower lying areas and this area is great for travel. 

Clothing
Bring along layers of clothing: thin shirts that you can wear one on top of another, several vests or fleece sweater with zippers, anything that you can put on or take off easily. If you're travelling through China between October and April you'll also need gloves, a scarf and a warm coat. Proper walking shoes with a good grip are necessary for the 10km walk over the Great Wall of China. Chinese are not used to seeing much bare skin, so be sure to keep your shoulders and knees covered when visiting temples and other holy places. 
Climate in China - Bundle up tight in the winter
Weather in China

 

Holidays
When planning your trip through China, keep the following in mind:
Most Chinese have 2 weeks off for Chinese New Years holiday (January or February, date changes annually) and most take this opportunity to visit family. It's quite difficult to travel during these periods of time; most flights, trains, busses and accommodation are full! The next Chinese New Year's celebration will take place on February 14th, 2010.

Although April - May and September - October are the best months to travel in China, the first week of May and the first week of October are not recommended travel periods. During these periods there are also national Chinese holidays and once again all means of transport and all accommodation are booked full. It's difficult to even get a reservation confirmed during these periods and due to the crowds the travel experience is a lot less enjoyable. 

Climate chart for China, summer months

BEIJING Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Average daytime temperatures 16 22 27 28 27 23 15
Average sun hours per day 8 9 9 7 7 8 8
Average number of rainy days 3 4 5 8 7 5 2
SHANGHAI Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Average daytime temperatures 16 22 25 29 29 25 20
Average sun hours per day 5 6 5 7 8 5 6
Average number of rainy days 8 8 9 7 7 8 6
HONG KONG Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Average daytime temperature 23 27 28 30 29 28 26
Average sun hours per day 4 5 5 8 7 7 8
Average number of rainy days 8 13 18 17 15 12 6
LHASA (Tibet) Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Average daytime temperature 11 14 18 18 17 15 12
Average sun hours per day 8 8 9 7 7 8 9
Average number of rainy days 0 2 6 10 7 5 1

 

 


Visit our suggested China itineraries page
or
Create your own trip using our travel modules by filling out an online quote request form