Planning
Best time to visit China: seasons, weather, and the holidays to avoid
When to go to China by season and region, and the Chinese holidays when trains sell out, sights are packed, and hotel prices jump.
China is huge, so there’s always somewhere with good weather. But for a first trip covering Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai, spring and autumn are the best times. Just as important as the season: avoid the big Chinese holidays, when hundreds of millions of people travel at once.
Season by season
| Season | Weather | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (March–May) | Mild and sunny in the north; warming up in the south. Some dust in Beijing in early spring. | Excellent. Avoid early April (Qingming) and May 1–5. |
| Summer (June–August) | Hot and humid almost everywhere (30–38°C); the rainy season in the south. | OK if you can handle heat. School holidays make July–August busy. |
| Autumn (September–November) | Clear skies, comfortable temperatures, autumn colours. | The best season. Avoid October 1–7. |
| Winter (December–February) | Cold and dry in the north (Beijing often below 0°C); mild in the south-west. | Good value: fewer tourists, lower prices. Avoid Chinese New Year. |
Best time by region
- Beijing and the Great Wall: April–May and September–October. Autumn is the classic Great Wall season.
- Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou: April–May and October–November. June brings the “plum rain” season.
- Xi’an: April–May and September–October.
- Chengdu and Sichuan: March–June and September–November. Often grey, but rarely extreme.
- Guilin and Yangshuo: April–October for green scenery; summer can bring floods that stop the Li River cruises.
- Yunnan: March–May and September–November. Kunming is mild all year.
- Zhangjiajie: April–May and September–November; mist is common in spring.
The holidays to avoid
During these holidays, trains sell out within minutes, hotel prices can double, and top sights hit their daily limits.
| Holiday | 2027 dates (the festival day) | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | January 1 | Short break, mild impact |
| Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) | Saturday 6 February 2027; time off roughly 5–12 February | The world’s biggest annual migration. Trains are packed for weeks before and after; many small shops and restaurants close for several days |
| Qingming | April 5 | Three-day weekend; busy sights |
| Labour Day (May Day) | May 1; usually a 5-day break | Very busy everywhere |
| Dragon Boat Festival | June 9 | Three-day weekend |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | September 15 | Three-day weekend |
| National Day (Golden Week) | October 1–7 | The busiest week of the year. Avoid it if you can |
China’s government publishes the exact days off, and the weekend “make-up” working days, each November for the following year. The 2027 schedule hadn’t been announced when we checked; the festival dates above are fixed by the calendar.
Is Chinese New Year worth seeing? The decorations, temple fairs, and fireworks are memorable. But travelling during it is hard. If you want to experience it, stay in one city and book everything well ahead.
Our pick
Mid-April to mid-May (after Qingming, avoiding May 1–5) or mid-September to early November (avoiding October 1–7).
Then plan your route: see our 10- and 14-day itineraries, and book hotels early for peak months on Trip.com or Klook.
