The best time to visit China, month by month

The short answer by type of trip

China spans deserts, mountains and subtropical coast, so "best" depends on where you go. For the routes most first-timers take:

If we had to pick one window for a first trip, it would be the second half of October: after the Golden Week crowds, dry and cool in Beijing, mild in Shanghai and Guilin.

Month by month

Temperatures are average daily highs from the China Meteorological Administration's 1981-2010 averages. Any given week can be warmer or colder, so check a forecast before you pack.

Weather by region

Beijing and the north

Beijing has short, pleasant springs and autumns between cold, dry winters and hot summers. Average highs are 21°C (69°F) in April, 27°C (80-81°F) in May and September, and 19°C (67°F) in October. More than half the year's rain falls in July and August. January averages a high of 2°C (35°F) and a low of -7°C (19°F), with almost no rain or snow. Xi'an is a little milder in winter (5°C/40°F in January) and just as hot in July, at about 32°C (90°F).

Winter is workable for the Forbidden City and the Great Wall if you dress for it; wear shoes with good grip, since steps can be icy after snow. Our guide to Great Wall tours from Beijing compares the sections.

Shanghai and the east

Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou have mild springs and autumns: Shanghai averages 20°C (68°F) in April, 25°C (77°F) in May and 23°C (74°F) in October. In June the plum rain (meiyu) season brings long spells of drizzle and humidity; June averages 188 mm of rain in Shanghai and 212 mm in Hangzhou. July and August highs run 32-34°C (90-92°F).

The UK government notes that typhoon season runs from May to November on China's southern and eastern coasts and can disrupt flights and trains, and August is Shanghai's wettest month (198 mm). Winters are damp and chilly, around 8°C (47°F) in January.

Guilin, Yunnan, Chengdu and the south-west

Guilin and Yangshuo: rain peaks from April to June (218 mm, 324 mm and 395 mm a month). September to November is much drier, at 67-82 mm, with highs falling from 31°C (87°F) to 21°C (69°F). January is cool at 12°C (53°F).

Yunnan: Kunming averages highs of 16-25°C (60-76°F) all year. November to April is the dry season, with 14-37 mm of rain a month; June to August brings 170-204 mm. Lijiang is similar but colder at night, with lows near freezing in December and January, and July is its wettest month (242 mm).

Chengdu and Chongqing: Chengdu's July and August average 29°C (84-85°F) with about 200 mm of rain a month; winter highs are 9-10°C (48-51°F). Chongqing is hotter, at 33°C (91-92°F) in July and August.

Zhangjiajie: rain peaks from May to July (178-233 mm) and highs reach 33°C (92°F) in July and August, so September and October are the easier months. See our Zhangjiajie guide.

Harbin and the north-east in winter

Harbin's January averages a high of -12°C (10°F) and a low of -23°C (-9°F), and December and February are only slightly milder. That cold is what makes the ice and snow festival possible; our Harbin Ice Festival guide has the 2026-27 season details. Summer is the opposite: highs of 26-28°C (80-82°F) from June to August, with July the wettest month (148 mm).

Tibet and other high-altitude areas

Foreign visitors need a Tibet travel permit arranged through a travel agency in China and must travel on an organized tour. The UK government says the authorities sometimes stop issuing permits without notice, so keep bookings flexible. The 240-hour visa-free transit doesn't cover Tibet.

Lhasa is dry for most of the year, with 7 mm of rain or less a month from October to April, and rainy in July and August (123-125 mm). Highs average 20°C (68°F) in May, 24°C (75°F) in June and 18°C (64°F) in October, while winter nights fall to about -8°C (18°F). Tibet, Qinghai and western Sichuan sit above 3,000 meters, and altitude sickness can be serious, so build in rest days.

Holidays to avoid in 2027

As of October 28, 2026, the State Council had not published the official 2027 holiday schedule. The 2026 schedule came out on November 4, 2025, so expect 2027's around November.

The festival dates below are set by the calendar and match Hong Kong's published 2027 holidays. The days off are our estimate, based on the standard set by the State Council for 2025 onward: eight days from New Year's Eve for the Spring Festival, five days for May Day, seven days from October 1 for National Day, and three days for the smaller festivals, unless one falls on a Wednesday, when only that day is off.

The Spring Festival travel rush, called chunyun, usually starts about two weeks before New Year's Day and lasts around 40 days. If 2027 follows that pattern, it will run from roughly January 22 to March 2; the official dates come out later. In 2026, China's state railway operator projected about 539 million rail trips over the 40 days. If you do travel over New Year, base yourself in one city for the holiday itself and avoid moving between cities in the days just before and after.

Late December is a quiet time to visit: Christmas is a normal working day in mainland China, and New Year's Day brings only a short break (expected January 1-3, 2027).

For a sample itinerary that fits the spring and autumn windows, see the classic 10-day route. If you'd like a local team to fit a trip around these dates, tell us when you can travel.