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When to go · China

China, month by month

The best months for China: Sep, Oct. Months to avoid: Feb.

Month by month

  1. JanuaryMixedCold and smoggy in the north, ice festival in Harbin; Spring Festival travel rush can start mid-month.North China: cool · East China and the Yangtze: cool · South China: fineCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  2. FebruaryAvoidSpring Festival in most years: closures and sold-out transport for a week or more.North China: cool · East China and the Yangtze: cool · South China: fineCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
  3. MarchMixedDust and chilly winds in the north; Tibet permits often paused; blossom in the south.North China: smoke haze · East China and the Yangtze: fine · South China: rainyCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  4. AprilGoodSpring across the east; Qingming break early in the month.North China: fine · East China and the Yangtze: best weather · South China: rainyCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  5. MayMixedWarm and clear, but the 1–5 May holiday packs every sight; go after the 6th.North China: best weather · East China and the Yangtze: best weather · South China: rainyCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
  6. JuneMixedPlum rain on the Yangtze, heat building; Tibet and the northwest are good.North China: hot · East China and the Yangtze: rainy · South China: rainyCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  7. JulyMixedHot, wet and school holidays; plateau and northeast work best.North China: rainy · East China and the Yangtze: hot · South China: storm or typhoon riskCrowds: High
  8. AugustMixedPeak domestic travel and typhoon risk on the coast.North China: rainy · East China and the Yangtze: storm or typhoon risk · South China: storm or typhoon riskCrowds: High
  9. SeptemberGreatHeat eases; one of the best months before National Day.North China: best weather · East China and the Yangtze: fine · South China: storm or typhoon riskCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  10. OctoberGreatClear skies and colour, but avoid 1–7 October; the rest of the month is ideal.North China: best weather · East China and the Yangtze: best weather · South China: best weatherCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
  11. NovemberGoodCool and clear in the north, mild in the south; quiet sights.North China: cool · East China and the Yangtze: best weather · South China: best weatherCrowds: Low
  12. DecemberGoodCold north, pleasant south and Yunnan; Harbin ice season opens late in the month.North China: cool · East China and the Yangtze: cool · South China: best weatherCrowds: Low

Weather by region

How each climate zone rates each month.

Weather rating by region and month
RegionJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
North ChinaBeijing, Tianjin, Xi'an, Datong, PingyaoCoolCoolHazeOKBestHotWetWetBestBestCoolCool
East China and the YangtzeShanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, HuangshanCoolCoolOKBestBestWetHotStormOKBestBestCool
South ChinaGuangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin, Yangshuo, Xiamen, HainanOKOKWetWetWetWetStormStormStormBestBestBest
Sichuan and YunnanChengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Dali, LijiangCoolCoolOKBestBestWetWetWetOKBestBestOK
Tibetan plateauLhasa, Shigatse, western Sichuan, QinghaiCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestWetWetBestBestCoolCool
Northwest and Silk RoadXinjiang, Gansu (Dunhuang, Zhangye), Inner MongoliaCoolCoolCoolOKBestHotHotHotBestBestCoolCool
NortheastHarbin, Changchun, ShenyangCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestOKOKBestBestCoolCool