China in December

Cold north, pleasant south and Yunnan; Harbin ice season opens late in the month.

• North China · Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an, Datong, Pingyaocool

  Continental: dry winters down to −10 °C, hot humid summers with thunderstorms. Dust and smog peak in late winter and spring; September–October is the clear season.

• East China and the Yangtze · Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Huangshancool

  Damp cold winters without much heating south of the Huai river; plum rain (meiyu) mid-June to mid-July; typhoons can hit Shanghai Aug–Sep.

• South China · Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin, Yangshuo, Xiamen, Hainanbest weather

  Subtropical: long humid summers, heavy rain Apr–Jun, typhoons Jul–Sep; October–December is dry and mild. Hainan is warm all year.

• Sichuan and Yunnan · Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Dali, Lijiangfine

  Chengdu is grey and humid, Chongqing is among the hottest cities in July–August; Yunnan's plateau is mild all year with a dry season Nov–Apr.

• Tibetan plateau · Lhasa, Shigatse, western Sichuan, Qinghaicool

  Altitude 3,000–5,000 m: strong sun, cold nights all year. Permits for Tibet often pause in March — check.

• Northwest and Silk Road · Xinjiang, Gansu (Dunhuang, Zhangye), Inner Mongoliacool

  Desert and steppe: very hot summer days in Turpan, bitter winters; May–June and September–October work best.

• Northeast · Harbin, Changchun, Shenyangcool

  Winters to −25 °C; the Harbin Ice and Snow World runs roughly late December to February.

• Beijing3° / -6°, 2 rain days

Crowds · China

Low

Prices · China

Low

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Rated best or good this month

• South China

  Best weather of the year (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin, Yangshuo, Xiamen, Hainan)

• Guangzhou

  Best months: Oct–Dec: warm days, lower humidity and little rain

• Shenzhen

  Best months: Oct–Dec: warm, drier weather with lower typhoon risk