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Best time to visit China: month by month
Short answer
April to May and September to October are the best months, with Beijing highs of about 21-27°C in spring and 19-27°C in autumn. Summer is hot and humid (32-33°C in Beijing) and rainy in Guilin, and winter is dry and freezing in Beijing. Avoid 1-7 October and Chinese New Year if you can.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2°C | -8°C | 1 | medium |
| Feb | 6°C | -5°C | 2 | high |
| Mar | 15°C | 2°C | 4 | low |
| Apr | 21°C | 8°C | 3 | high |
| May | 27°C | 14°C | 4 | high |
| Jun | 33°C | 20°C | 7 | medium |
| Jul | 32°C | 23°C | 15 | high |
| Aug | 29°C | 21°C | 11 | high |
| Sep | 27°C | 17°C | 7 | medium |
| Oct | 19°C | 8°C | 5 | very high |
| Nov | 10°C | 0°C | 3 | low |
| Dec | 2°C | -7°C | 1 | low |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Beijing warms from about 15°C in March to 27°C in May, with little rain; one of the two best seasons.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot and humid, 29-33°C by day in Beijing with rain peaking in July (about 15 rainy days); Guilin is wet.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September and October bring clear skies at about 19-27°C in Beijing; November drops to around 10°C.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Dry and cold in Beijing, about 2-6°C by day and -5 to -8°C at night; quiet sights except at Chinese New Year.
Events worth planning around
- Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), late January or February
- Lantern Festival, 15 days after Chinese New Year
- Dragon Boat Festival, usually June
- Mid-Autumn Festival, September or early October
- National Day Golden Week, 1-7 October
When to avoid
The National Day Golden Week (1-7 October), the May Labour Day holiday and Chinese New Year, when trains and sights sell out. July and August are hot, humid and busy with domestic school holidays.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit China?
April, May, September and October, avoiding the first week of October.
Is China crowded during Golden Week?
Extremely: from 1 to 7 October, hundreds of millions travel and major sites and trains sell out.
How cold is Beijing in winter?
Highs of about 2-6°C and lows of -5 to -8°C from December to February, usually dry and sunny.