Introduction:
There really is no ideal time to visit a vast country like China. Any time of the year is going to be wonderful in some parts, but less so in others. Understanding what the weather is like in different parts of the country might help you plan your trip, especially if you know what destinations you'll be visiting.
The Weather in China by Month:
January in China
February in China
March in China
April in China
May in China
June in China
July in China
August in China
September in China
October in China
November in China
December in China
Northern China:
Northern China is
- Beijing
- Inner Mongolia
- Tianjin
- Harbin
- basically anything north of the Great Wall.
Winter is long and cold, lasting from December through March. Temperatures are often below zero and you'll likely see snow. Summer sees opposite extreme temperatures when it can be very hot and quite humid. Summer lasts from May through the end of August.
Ideal Times to Visit Northern China
Ideal times to visit northern China are spring and autumn when the days can be pleasantly warm but the nights very chilly.
Central China:
Central China is
Winters in central China feel colder than they look, the cold moisture in the air makes a traveler feel the cold right to the bone. You will seldom see snow and temperatures may never reach freezing. Happily, winters are short, starting in January in earnest and usually finishing up by the end of March. Summers are long, hot and humid, lasting from April through September/October.
Ideal Times to Visit Central China:
Autumn is probably your best bet in central China. Spring can be difficult with an occasional long winter or early wet season, although mid-April through mid-May are usually very nice. It is not yet terribly hot, flowers are blooming and the trees are starting to leaf out, so there's an air of freshness. However, autumn usually sees clearer skies, still warm temperatures without the overbearing humidity. And, you're less likely to get rained on.
Southern China:
Southern China is
- Guangzhou (Canton
- Guilin
- Xiamen
- Kunming
- Hong Kong
It is generally wetter in the south and high temperatures are sustained longer. Winter, from January to March, like in central China, is short but can feel very cold. April through September is the rainy season where temperatures and humidity reach highs. Along the southeast coast of China, the typhoon season is from July through September.
Ideal Times to Visit Southern China:
Like central China, there's probably no ideal time but again, your best bet will be autumn for breaks in heat and humidity. There's always a chance of rain, though, so bring the right rain gear.
Northwest China:
Northwest China is
- Xinjiang Province (Urumuqi, Turpan)
- Gansu Province (Lanzhou)
- Qinghai Province (Golmud)
- basically the stops along the Silk Road
The northwestern part of China becomes more like central Asia than eastern Asia. There are fewer Han Chinese and the terrain is arid and dry. It is here that the traveler will feel the extremes of Chinese weather
Ideal Times to Visit Northwest China:
There's not much need to worry about rainfall, so any time of the year will be relatively dry. That said, winter will be bitterly cold and in summer the heat and sun can be relentless. As long as you are prepared, any time of the year can be great. Best bets are spring and autumn when the temperatures are milder.
Tibet:
The Tibetan Autonomous Region is the formerly independent country of Tibet on the Tibetan plateau, situated north and northeast of the Himalayas.
The winter in Tibet can be very fierce. Winds whipping across the plateau coupled with plunging temperatures make a visit in winter months to Tibet the stuff of the hearty traveler. Temperatures are much more varied in the summer months: it can be at freezing before sunrise and hit 100F by noon.
