As the fourth largest country in the world, the range of temperatures in China at any one time can be considerable.

China is situated in the northern hemisphere so their seasons fall into the same months as the UK. Deciding on the best time to visit China depends on where you wish to see and the weather you hope to have. It's worth bearing in mind that the vast majority of tourists in China are Chinese themselves, so avoiding their national holidays means that main sites are less busy. You will also get more choice and better value accommodation in shoulder seasons.

Winter can be extremely cold in the north of China, so highlights of the season here focus on snow and ice. Winter sports are increasingly popular in China, and Beijing will host the Winter Olympics in 2022. The snow on the Great Wall of China, easily accessed from Beijing, offers a different perspective of one of the Wonders of the World. The Forbidden City, China's largest palace and museum, or the Terracotta Warriors of Xian, provide respite from the cold. All tourist spots and hotels are less busy in this season, so if you can bring a few layers of clothing with you, it's a great time to visit China.  

The south of China, generally regarded as south of the Yangtze River, emerges from their winter by March. Spring flowers appear and more tourists return. Guangzhou is known as the 'Flower City' and hosts a flower festival. Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Yangzhou are warmer and enjoying spring.

Events

The Harbin Ice Festival is the world's largest winter festival taking place from late December to February. It takes 10,000 workers from around the world to create the massive ice sculptures. The lighting of the Sculptures is incredible. Around 15 million people visit each year.

Chinese New Year falls between 21 Jan -21 Feb. Transport and attractions can become very congested during this national holiday so I would advise avoiding the country at this time if at all possible. 

The Hong Kong International Film Festival, showcasing predominantly Asian films, runs March to April.

By April the spring has sprung in the north of China, so it's a great time to visit the famous sites of Beijing and Xian in comfortable temperatures. Into May and it is the best time for hiking the Great Wall of China.

In the south, you could visit the Three Gorges or cycle around Yangshuo and take a cruise on the Li River. The Karst landscape is incredibly photographic. Not to be missed is the Lui San Jie Impression Light Show in the evenings in Yangshuo. June is the best month for hiking in the Huangshan (Yellow) Mountains and from there you could visit the Lotus Flowers and Dragon Boat Racing in Hangzhou.

Summer is the most popular time to visit China with airfares and accommodation at their priciest. Chinese students are on vacation which adds to main tourist sites being busy.

It is a great time to take a Yangtze River cruise, as the surrounding countryside and scenery will be at its most lush. 

To escape the crowds and the heat, consider a trip to Yunnan Province. The mountain air is fresher and there are fantastic hiking opportunities. The cities of Lijiang and Dali offer UNESCO World Heritage Sites and beautiful lakes.

Summer is also the best time to travel on the Silk Road from Xian to Kashgar. The scenery and different cultures you encounter on this historic route are incredible.

Events

Over a million people will visit the Hong Kong Book Fair in July.

Qingdao, a seaside city, hosts a beer festival in August. It is the largest beer festival in Asia and they have beer from around the world and of course their own local beer Tsingtao. There is plenty of live music and food to enjoy too.

Horse Racing is also popular in summer.

Throughout China, temperatures begin to drop to a more comfortable temperature for sightseeing. The number of tourists also drops, so it's perfect to visit the main sights of China.

Chengdu is the best place to visit China's national animal, the Giant Panda. Whilst you can visit all year around, September is when the pandas hopefully give birth to their cubs. 

Autumn colours spread throughout China as it gets cooler into October and November. If you are looking for warmer weather, Guangzhou and Hong Kong still have temperatures in the high 20s.

Events

Mid-September is the Mid-Autumn Festival marked by sampling moon cakes from Chinese bakeries. 

Beijing hosts the 798 Art Festival in September with over 400 venues focusing on contemporary art.

The first week of October is Golden Week, celebrating the founding of the People's Republic of China. As with Chinese New Year, this means public transport and tourist sites get extremely busy so again my advice would be to avoid this period for travelling if at all possible.

A week later, the Shanghai Tennis Masters takes place with the world's best tennis players competing.

For inspiration on the best time to visit China, take a look at our China Holidays pages.