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The best times to visit China are April, May, early June, September and October, when the weather is temperate and crowds are few. The summer months can get busy with tourists, so it’s best to avoid June, July and August if you don’t want to be around crowds. Keep in mind that Southern China experiences monsoon season from late April through September, so if you’re traveling to Guangzhou or elsewhere on the southern coast, we suggest waiting until October.
China experiences all four seasons. Expect cold and snow in the winter and heat and humidity in the summer. As the country is so vast, temperatures vary greatly depending on your location and elevation, so it’s best to decide which cities you’d like to see before deciding on when to visit them.
Here’s the best time to visit China, depending on your activities:
July through August is when you’ll find the most amount of tourists visiting China — school is out and many people will be taking summer vacations.
Not only will it be hot outside, but you’ll also find that many hotels will be fully booked and attractions will be overflowed with camera touting tourists.
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Great hotel values in Beijing, China
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The weather in China varies, depending on where you go — just like traveling in the US.
Beijing is hot, humid and rainy during the summer, and dry and chilly during the winter. Aim for spring or fall for the sweet spot of sunny days and fewer crowds.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 36° F | 42° F | 54° F | 69° F | 80° F | 87° F | 88° F | 86° F | 79° F | 66° F | 50° F | 39° F |
| Low | 17° F | 22° F | 33° F | 47° F | 57° F | 66° F | 72° F | 70° F | 59° F | 46° F | 32° F | 21° F |
| Rain | 0 days | 1 days | 1 days | 2 days | 3 days | 7 days | 10 days | 8 days | 5 days | 3 days | 1 days | 0 days |
The climate in Xiamen, on the southeastern tip of China, is mild and pleasant for most of the year, as it rarely drops below 50° F. However, it’s rainy throughout spring and summer, and typhoons influence the weather from July to September. The autumn months are a great time to visit southern China, offering drier days and less humidity than summer.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 64° F | 65° F | 68° F | 76° F | 82° F | 87° F | 92° F | 91° F | 89° F | 83° F | 76° F | 68° F |
| Low | 51° F | 52° F | 55° F | 63° F | 70° F | 76° F | 79° F | 78° F | 76° F | 70° F | 63° F | 55° F |
| Rain | 4 days | 7 days | 10 days | 10 days | 12 days | 12 days | 7 days | 10 days | 6 days | 2 days | 3 days | 3 days |
Average yearly temperatures sourced from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in February 2021.
You can find the lowest prices on hotels, tours and activities from December to February, as the weather drops to freezing in many tourist cities. For bargains with more pleasant temperatures, search for deals between March and April or between October and November when the weather is either warming up or cooling down.
When it comes to flights, the cheapest time to fly to Beijing is June, according to data from Skyscanner. Just keep in mind that you’ll likely run into large crowds and long lines if you travel during this time.
Plan your trip to China during these holidays to celebrate with the Chinese. Just keep in mind that prices on flights and hotels are likely to spike during Chinese New Year, as tourists around the world flock to partake in the festivities.
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