China in July

Hot, wet and school holidays; plateau and northeast work best.

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

  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, Huangshanhot

  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, Hainanstorm or typhoon risk

  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, Lijiangrainy

  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, Qinghairainy

  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 Mongoliahot

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

• Northeast · Harbin, Changchun, Shenyangfine

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

• Beijing31° / 22°, 14 rain days

Crowds · China

High

Prices · China

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
• A spare day in the plan: storms can cancel flights and ferries

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Better another month

• South China

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

• Beijing

  Hot, humid and rainy.