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China Weather: Best and Worst Time to Visit China 2026 (Plus Useful Travel Tips)

Written by Sally Guo Updated Nov. 29, 2025

China's weather is diverse due to its wide range of geography and terrain. The country is vast, with a mix of mountains and plains, leading to different temperatures and rainfall across regions. Most areas share common features: hot, rainy summers and cold, dry winters.

Natural disasters like typhoons, floods, and cold waves are common, so it's advisable to plan your trips to avoid these events.

This article will provide detailed information about the weather in northern and southern China, the four seasons, monthly climates, and major tourist cities, offering practical insights for inbound travelers.

Best Time to Visit China 2026

China is perfect for travel any time of year. Each season has its unique scenery and activities. The best time to visit China depends on your destinations, interests, budget, and holiday schedule.

Typically, April, May, September, and October offer the most comfortable weather across many popular tourist destinations in China. Spring brings warmth, blooming flowers, and lively nature, while autumn features clear skies and vibrant foliage. These seasons are ideal for travel and outdoor activities, with mild temperatures and little rain.

If you want to enjoy pleasant weather and avoid crowds, consider traveling in mid-to-late May or mid-to-late October.

If you’re looking for the cheapest time to go to China, consider traveling from November to March. This off-season period offers less crowded attractions and better prices.

For a balance of good weather and affordability, March and November are brilliant choices.

China weather

Worst Time to Visit China

Days with extreme weather, like heavy rain or high temperatures, as well as major holidays with peak travel crowds, are usually not ideal for travel. However, these conditions can be significantly minimized with careful planning, thorough knowledge of the destination, and smart destination choices.

Book with China Travel, and we'll customize a trip to fit your needs, ensuring an enjoyable journey while minimizing the impact of extreme weather and crowds.

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To Avoid Crowds

During public holidays in China, you will encounter huge crowds, as many Chinese people travel at that time. Popular spots like the Forbidden City have limited tickets, making them hard to get. Prices for hotels and transport often rise, and high-speed train tickets sell out quickly.

To enjoy a more relaxed and affordable trip, we suggest avoiding travel during these major holidays in 2026.

If your travel dates coincide with these holidays, make sure to book with a travel agency as early as possible (at least three months in advance) and prepare for the crowds by starting your days early to avoid peak times.

To Avoid Rainy Seasons/Typhoon Seasons

China's rainy season mainly occurs in the summer, from June to August.

In southern China, like Shanghai, Huangshan, Guilin, and Zhangjiajie, heavy rain in June and July can lead to flooding. However, since rainy seasons vary across different cities, you still have many travel options. Just contact us with your travel dates and preferences, and we'll plan a suitable itinerary for you.

In northern China, like Beijing and Xi’an, the rainy season typically falls in July and August, with short periods of rain that generally don't affect travel much.

In southeastern coastal areas like Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Fujian, and Taiwan, typhoons may occur from July to September. It's advisable to avoid outdoor activities during a typhoon.

Weather in Northern China (Beijing, Xi’an, Harbin, etc.)

In northern China, spring is often windy and accompanied by dust, leading to sandstorms or dusty weather, affecting air quality and visibility. However, thanks to years of environmental efforts, most cities have improved significantly and are not likely to impact your travel plans.

In northern China, most of the rain falls in the summer. In some cities, heavy rain over a short period can lead to urban flooding.

Autumn in the north is clear and dry, making it the best time for travel.

Winter is cold and dry, with snowfall common in many areas.

Snow Town
Snow Town

Weather in Eastern China (Shanghai, Hangzhou, Huangshan, etc.)

East China is between the northern and southern climates, so it has features of both. It has distinct seasons, with rain and warm weather happening at the same time.

From June to July, there's a rainy period called the plum rain season, which brings many cloudy and wet days, sometimes with heavy rain. The weather is hot and humid, with little difference between day and night temperatures, making it easy for things to get moldy.

Weather in Southern China (Hong Kong, Guilin, Chengdu, Chongqing, etc.)

In South China, summers are long, and winters are short, with lots of rain.

Spring warms up quickly in Southern China, with plenty of rainy days. It's humid, so you often get fog, and everything indoors feels damp. However, it's a great time to visit because everything comes to life, flowers bloom, and the natural scenery is beautiful.

Summer is hot and sticky, with heavy rain and thunderstorms. Typhoons can bring heavy rain, causing significant flooding in a short time.

In autumn, it cools down but stays warm, around 20-25°C. If you find the north too cold in winter, consider visiting the south. Winters here aren't very cold, so outdoor activities are still enjoyable.

China Weather by Month

China Weather in Spring (March, April, May)

Spring is a good time to visit China. Early spring (around March) is off-season, with cooler, changeable weather and occasional showers. During this time, there are fewer tourists, and travel costs are generally lower, making it a great time to explore popular destinations like Beijing and Shanghai.

By late spring (April to May), temperatures rise to a comfortable 20-25°C, creating ideal conditions for outdoor activities. It's a perfect time to enjoy the vibrant spring colors in mountainous areas like Zhangjiajie or the Li River in Guilin, where the drizzle adds a mystical touch to the mountain mists.

Visiting Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Spring
Visiting Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Spring

Recommended Spring Tours

China Weather in Summer (June, July, August)

Summer in China is typically hot, with daytime temperatures often exceeding 30°C. The season is also marked by abundant rainfall due to oceanic monsoons, particularly in the southeast coastal regions.

To escape the summer heat, consider visiting Tibet, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, or the Silk Road. These destinations are far from the ocean, offering distinct climates and stunning landscapes perfect for exploration.

Tibet's high altitude keeps it much cooler than the lowlands. Yunnan, known as the "land of eternal spring," offers Tibetan cultural experiences without the need for a travel permit.

Potala Palace
Potala Palace

Inner Mongolia, located in northern China, is a refreshing summer retreat.

The Silk Road is ideal in summer, especially in Xinjiang, where you can enjoy both breathtaking landscapes and ripe local fruits.

Recommended Summer Tours

China Weather in Autumn (September, October, November)

Autumn is the ideal season to visit China, offering the most comfortable weather across the country. While September can still be a little hot, from October to November, vibrant fall colors blanket the landscape, and the days become cool and dry with clear blue skies.

If you're planning to visit China in the fall, we have some stunning destinations to recommend. Western Sichuan's Jiuzhaigou is renowned for its vibrant autumn colors, while the villages in Huangshan are filled with beautiful fall shades. In Beijing, the Fragrant Hills offer picturesque scenes with their brilliant red leaves, and Shanghai's Former French Concession is perfect for a leisurely stroll under the golden plane trees.

Recommended Autumn Tours

China Weather in Winter (December, January, February)

During winter, most regions in China are chilly and damp, with northern areas often experiencing freezing temperatures and frequent snowfall. However, destinations like Harbin offer a magical winter wonderland with the famous Ice and Snow Festival.

Most parts of southern China are as cold as the north. Even without snow, the high humidity makes it feel just as chilly. Only a few tropical areas, like Hainan (Sanya), Yunnan (Xishuangbanna), and Hong Kong, have mild winters. Hong Kong is a great choice with its warm climate and festive Christmas atmosphere, perfect for a winter getaway.

Recommended Winter Tours

China Weather in Popular Tourist Destinations

Beijing Weather

Beijing's weather has four distinct seasons: spring is windy and dusty, hot and rainy summers, cool autumns, and chilly and dry winters.

The best time to visit Beijing is from September to November. The weather is dry with very little rain, and beautiful autumn scenery appears everywhere, such as the red leaves in Xiangshan Park and the ginkgo tree avenue in Ditan Park. The light at the Forbidden City is softer during this season, making it a paradise for photography lovers.

However, try to avoid the first week of October (National Day holiday). People from all over the country travel to the capital during this “Golden Week,” so Beijing becomes extremely crowded.

Shanghai Weather

Shanghai's weather is characterized by hot and humid summers, mild and pleasant autumns and springs, and chilly winters with occasional rain.

The best time to visit Shanghai for pleasant weather is during spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October). Spring offers blooming scenery, while autumn provides mild temperatures and colorful scenery.

Please note that Shanghai usually hosts the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in early November. During this major event, hotels are in high demand, and prices can be very high. If your schedule is flexible, it’s better to avoid this period.

Zhangjiajie Weather

Zhangjiajie's weather is humid with high levels of precipitation almost all year round, but it has big seasonal changes.

The rainy season in Zhangjiajie mainly occurs from May to August, with June and July being the peak months for rainfall. Starting from mid to late August, the amount of rain gradually decreases. After rain, mountain roads can become slippery, and dense fog often forms, which may affect long-distance views.

The best time to visit Zhangjiajie is generally regarded as late Autumn- the end of October and throughout November. During this season, the weather is cool and mild, without the heavy rains, sun, and heat of spring and summer.

Chengdu Weather

Chengdu's weather is quite humid, with more cloudy days than sunny ones. The climate is mild and ideal for travel, so you can visit year-round. Autumn is especially ideal for visiting nearby places such as Jiuzhaigou and Daocheng Yading to enjoy the fall scenery.

Chengdu usually hosts the National Sugar and Wine Fair in late March every year. During this period, hotel availability is limited, and prices are very high. If you’re looking for better value for money, it’s a good idea to avoid these dates.

Yunnan Weather

Yunnan Weather is characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons, big temperature changes between day and night, and very strong UV rays.

Yunnan is huge, and the elevation varies greatly — from deep river valleys to high mountain peaks with a difference of over 6,000 meters — it has a unique "three-dimensional climate.” People often say, “One mountain has four seasons, and the weather changes every ten miles."

This means the weather can be completely different from place to place. For example, when central Kunming is enjoying warm spring and blooming flowers, Shangri-La in the northwest might already be covered in snow and winter scenery.

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