When to Visit China

January is the middle of the winter and low tourist season in China, so expect bitterly cold weather, especially in the north. Things get warmer as you head to the far south. Since this is not the peak tourist season, you’ll get good deals on hotels in most places. But shopping can get expensive around the Chinese New Year, so keep this in mind if you plan to travel to China in January. This is also the best month to see the ice festival in the northeast city of Harbin, admire the snow-covered landscape of Jiuzhaigou National Park in southwestern China, and soak in the warmth of the sun in Hainan Island in China’s southernmost tip.

February is the last month of winter in China. Though temperatures remain freezing in large parts of the country, the bitter cold starts losing its edge in the southwest. It’s the perfect time to enjoy the splendid ice festival in Harbin, catch some sun in Macau, hike the Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan province, and go skiing in Heilongjiang province. Continue reading to find more about the weather, things to do, places to visit during your trip in China in February.

Visitors are welcomed with long sunny days and warm temperatures in China in June, making it an ideal time to explore iconic destinations such as the Great Wall near Beijing or the Terracotta Army in Xi'an before the peak tourist season arrives. It’s an excellent month for a scenic hike in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park or to explore the breathtaking landscapes of Guilin and Yangshuo. June is also a time when lively festivals are celebrated throughout the country, most notably the famed Dragon Boat Festival. Although the rainy season in China does not start until later this month, occasional showers can still be expected, especially in the south and east of the country. In case of heavy downpours, bustling cities like Shanghai and Nanjing, renowned for their rich cultural and artistic scene, can offer plenty of indoor experiences regardless of the weather. Read on to find out what your tour to China will look like this month.

Spring is in the air in China in April. The month comes before the peak tourist summer season and is known for its cherry blossoms and occasional showers. April ticks all the boxes: the weather is pleasant, the scenery is lovely, and the costs are relatively low. This is an excellent time to see giant pandas in Chengdu, cruise the Yangtze, pose for pictures in beautiful fields of yellow rapeseed in Wuyuan, and tour Tibet before the hordes of tourists arrive. Read on to find out what your trip to China this month will look like.

The Chinese countryside turns lush green in May, thanks to April rain showers. It’s the last month of spring, but some parts of the country are already experiencing warm weather. May in China is also the beginning of the high tourist season. Nanjing, the ancient capital of the Ming dynasty, attracts crowds because of its pleasant weather. Conditions are also perfect for hiking the Great Wall, dreamily drift on a bamboo boat on the Yulong River, cycle on Xi’an’s 14th-century walls, and watch playful giant pandas in Chengdu. Read on to find out more about the weather and things to do during your trip to China in May.

July is the middle of summer in China and can be unpleasantly hot and humid. But it’s part of the high tourist season, and the streets of major cities are brimming with activities. You can beat the heat in China in July by traveling to cooler mountainous areas like Zhangjiajie and exploring the sprawling grasslands of Inner Mongolia. This is also a good time to stroll around the old towns of Dali and Shangri-La in Yunnan Province, which is tolerably hot in July. Read on to find out more about a trip to China this month.

August in China is part of the peak tourist season and one of the hottest months of the year. Hotel costs can be high, so it helps to plan your trip weeks in advance. Despite rain in some parts, this is an excellent time for hiking in places like Tiger Leaping Gorge, Longji Rice Terraces and Shunan Zhuhai National Park. Tibet is one of the best places to visit in China in August because of its pleasant weather. Admire the skills of the craftswomen behind the famous batik in Matang Gejia village in Guizhou province in August. Or stay in a yurt (a traditional tent) with a family of semi-nomadic herders in Inner Mongolia. Read on to discover what your tour to China this month can look like.

September is a transition period between a hot, humid Chinese summer and a crisp, cool autumn. The weather in China in September is distinctly cooler than the peak summer months, and the crowds are smaller, making it the perfect month to explore this vast country. This is a good time to see big-ticket attractions like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City in Beijing and go on a grand cruise on the Yangtze River. If you spend your time touring in China in September, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous foliage in the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve and the changing colors around Kanas Lake, especially in the latter half of the month as the fall sets in.

From the golden-hued trees across Beijing to the runway events that take Shanghai by storm, there are plenty of amazing reasons to tour China in November. While the temperatures start to fall slightly, the majority of China remains balmy and dry, ideal for outdoor hiking and adventuring, especially in the Yellow Mountains. November is considered firmly in the low season, so taking your holidays in China this month is a largely affordable and less crowded option without sacrificing the warmer, drier weather.

From the start of the thrilling snowsports season in the mountainous regions to the explosive New Year celebrations around Shanghai and Hong Kong, China in December is bustling with excitement and adventure. When you travel to China this month, expect cold temperatures, but largely dry conditions which are ideal for wintry exploration. Have your fill of the slopes, or use the low season rates and crowds to have the major sites like the Great Wall all to yourself.

Dreamy weather, splendid colors of fall, and good value for money—China in October has everything going for it. It’s no wonder this is one of the best months to visit the Middle Kingdom. Much of China is sunny and dry in October, making it an ideal time to visit. The Great Wall, Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve, and the Red Grasslands are blanketed by beautiful autumn foliage. The weather is also ideal for enjoying a bamboo raft ride along the Nine Bend River near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mount Wuyi in Fujian, as well as admiring the scenery — steep cliffs, green vegetation — of the U-shaped red sandstone Longtan Valley. Read on to find out what a trip to China this month will look like.

Beautiful architecture at West Lake in Hangzhou in China in March.Though the weather in China in March is still chilly in places, it’s the beginning of spring. China comes to life in March after a long, cold winter. Hotel costs are lower, and crowds are thin compared to the summer. Swathes of southern rural China turn a beautiful bright yellow thanks to the rapeseed season, while places like Shanghai and Hangzhou see the first spring blooms. The pleasant weather in Shanghai in March is perfect for walking along the Bund and admiring the purple cherry blossoms in the Chenshan Botanical Garden. This is also a great time to take a ferry ride in the port town of Xiamen and visit the 5th-century Shaolin Temple in Henan province. Read on to find out what your tour to China will look like this month.