The best time to travel to China is all-year round. It’s a great country! However, there still are a few factors you have to consider before you make your choice of the departure date.
When it comes to booking those tickets, you’ll need to know what you’re getting yourself into. It’s not just the weather you have to account for, but several other factors as well.
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Here’s a list of some things you should consider before you set your departure date for coming to China:
China is huge, and the climate is different in different places. You have to look at where you want to go and then you’ll be able to make an informed choice about when to go.
For instance, if you’re heading to the south of the country, you’ll want to avoid the mid-summer months of July and August. The heat can be unbearable and make even a simple walk to a restaurant a pain. Even in Beijing, in fact, the heat can get to be too much. If you do decide to go to China during the summer, make sure that you’re prepared.
Alternatively, you might want to give the north a miss during the middle of the winter months, it’s incredibly cold and you’re guaranteed to notice it. That is unless you want to head somewhere like the Harbin Ice Festival.
It takes place in the middle of the winter, and it is super cold, but it’s also a unique attraction and something you won’t be able to see at any other time.
This one should seem somewhat obvious. What are you actually planning to do once you travel to China? Are you planning on climbing mountains, as they have some of the best hiking in Asia, or spending a relatively relaxed time exploring temples or on beaches?
Keep the Fall open for climbing mountains. The temperature isn’t too bad and the humidity stays relatively comfortable. If you’re thinking of checking out temples or maybe doing something a little bit more relaxing, Summer should be perfect. Save Winter for its unique attractions.
Another thing to consider is, what is your budget? If you’re looking for the cheapest prices, make sure to avoid travel to China during the Chinese holidays. This especially includes the Spring Festival in either January or February (check to see when it falls during the year you’re traveling), and the National Day festival holiday. Prices rise by a lot during these times (along with the wait times for different attractions).
Once you’ve considered the above factors, here are the 4 seasons and what the best things are for you to do during each.
Many say that fall is the best time to travel to China. The weather is at its best, the scenery comes alive with passionate reds and fiery oranges, and it’s all-around just great. You can climb mountains without getting too sweaty, or bath in hot springs without feeling as though you’re too hot already.
How about traveling to places like Beijing and climbing the Great Wall, or Xi’an and biking around the city walls? Any experiences which need a lot of exertion should be kept in the fall months. That is unless you like the feeling of copious amounts of sweat or cold.
However, make sure to avoid the National Day holiday. Chinese people go on holidays en-masse during this time, and you’ll end up being swallowed in that mass. Have you ever heard of people mountain, people sea? That’s what you’ll have to look forward to if you go during the National Day holiday. Google it.
Spring. It’s when the flowers start to open and the birds start to sing. Late spring is seen as the second best time to travel to China. You’ll be able to see flowers and trees blooming in the south of the country, but you won’t be hit by its intense heat. Moreover, you can get away without having a lot of people surrounding you. Most students are in school, most adults are working, and other holidaymakers end up being fairly spread out.
Head to Guilin for a great time going up and down the river. You’ll be able to see some of China’s best Karst landscapes, and then you’ll be able to go have some of the local food. A great Springtime experience.
Hainan might just be the best place to visit during the summer. The place will be incredibly hot, but that’s kind of what you want from a beach lounging holiday, isn’t it? Moreover, you’ll be able to enjoy and incredibly nice, cool drink as you sit on the beach drawing in the sun’s rays.
There is also a national park for you to explore if you’re up for it. Just in case the temperature gets to be too much, you can always retire to your resort or hotel and spend an afternoon cooling off there, before heading to the beach during the evening once the sun’s gone down a bit.
Whilst many locals tend to flock to the sunny and tropical Hainan during the Winter, you can take advantage of this and head north. Sure, it’s incredibly cold during this time (sometimes reaching as low as -38 C in Harbin), but it’s also a time to enjoy some of the North’s more fascinating attractions and festivals. This is when the North comes alive. Don’t miss out on it.
Moreover, you don’t have too much to worry about when it comes to the cold. As long as you’ve made sure to wrap up tight, your hotel will be equipped with good quality heating, so you’ll be fine. You could always head to some hot springs to warm up. Moreover, during Winter, you’ll also get the best prices as it’s the low season.
When do you think the best time to arrive is for you?