China in March

Dust and chilly winds in the north; Tibet permits often paused; blossom in the south.

• North China · Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an, Datong, Pingyaosmoke haze

  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, Huangshanfine

  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, Hainanrainy

  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.

• Beijing12° / 0°, 5 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Two Sessions (NPC and CPPCC) check

  Early-to-mid March · Beijing

  Heightened security and occasional road closures during the annual political meetings.

Crowds · China

Medium

Prices · China

Medium

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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Rated best or good this month

• Shanghai

  Best months: Mar–May and Oct–Nov: mild, drier air before summer humidity sets in and after the main typhoon risk passes

• Chengdu

  Best months: Mar–May and Sep–Nov: mild temperatures and clearer skies than summer or winter

• Xi'an

  Best months: Mar–May and Sep–Nov: mild and dry, avoiding both summer heat and winter cold