Country guide

China

The Great Wall, the karst rivers of Guilin, Sichuan's spice and Shanghai's skyline, at a scale no single trip can cover.

Currency

CNY

Language

Mandarin Chinese

English

Limited

Payment

Cash preferred

Power

Type A / I

230 V, 50 Hz

Dialing

+86

Destinations

China

Beijing

Eight centuries of Chinese capital on one axis: the Forbidden City at its centre, the Great Wall along the ridgeline north.

✓ best Apr-May, Sep-Oct

China

Shanghai

The one Chinese city built to look outwards - a treaty-port waterfront on one bank, the country's tallest skyline on the other, and the eating to match.

✓ best Mar-May, Oct-Nov

China

Xi'an

The eastern end of the Silk Road, capital to thirteen dynasties, and the city an emperor built a clay army to guard.

✓ best Mar-Oct

The sweet-spot windows

Good weather, thinner crowds, better prices: the windows worth aiming for.

Where	When	Why it works	Watch out for
The north (Beijing, Xian)	May, Sep-Oct	Warm dry spring or crisp autumn foliage. Avoid Jul-Aug rains	Golden Week (early Oct) = huge crowds
The south (Guangzhou, Guilin)	Oct-Dec	Dry, warm, post-typhoon. Nov best. Winter escape for HK/Guilin	May-Aug = wet + typhoons
Tibet	May, Sep-Oct	Sunny, dry, mild. Clearest just before/after summer rains	Winter cold + permits. Jul-Aug rain
Yunnan	Feb-Apr, Oct-Nov	Eternal spring at its best: dry, mild, flowers or autumn color	Jun-Aug rainy season

Climate zones, month by month

China has 3 distinct climate zones. The right month depends on where in the country you're going.

Beijing →

Jan

2°

-7°

2mm

0d rain

Feb

6°

-4°

6mm

1d rain

Mar

13°

2°

9mm

2d rain

Apr

21°

9°

22mm

2d rain

May

27°

15°

36mm

4d rain

Jun

31°

20°

72mm

6d rain

Jul

32°

23°

170mm

14d rain

Aug

31°

22°

113mm

11d rain

Sep

27°

16°

54mm

6d rain

Oct

19°

9°

29mm

2d rain

Nov

10°

1°

14mm

2d rain

Dec

4°

-5°

2mm

0d rain

✓ Best Apr-May, Sep-Oct · ✗ Avoid Jul-Aug

Conditions Jan-Feb Cold & dry · Mar Windy & dusty · Apr Pleasant spring · May Warm & dry · Jun Hot building · Jul Hot & wet · Aug Heavy rain · Sep Crisp & clear · Oct Autumn foliage · Nov-Dec Cold & dry

Watch for Dec-Feb smog risk

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Shanghai →

Jan

8°

2°

70mm

6d rain

Feb

10°

4°

64mm

8d rain

Mar

14°

7°

87mm

8d rain

Apr

20°

12°

77mm

8d rain

May

25°

18°

90mm

9d rain

Jun

28°

22°

197mm

15d rain

Jul

32°

26°

147mm

15d rain

Aug

32°

26°

210mm

10d rain

Sep

28°

22°

117mm

10d rain

Oct

23°

17°

71mm

7d rain

Nov

18°

11°

58mm

6d rain

Dec

11°

4°

49mm

3d rain

✓ Best Mar-May, Oct-Nov · ✗ Avoid Jun-Aug

Conditions Jan-Feb Cold & damp · Mar Peach blossom · Apr Mild & pleasant · May Warm · Jun Plum rains · Jul Hot & humid · Aug Hot + typhoons · Sep Typhoon risk · Oct Mild & clear · Nov Cool & pleasant · Dec Cold

Watch for Jul-Oct typhoons risk

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Xi'an Shaanxi →

Jan

5°

-3°

6mm

1d rain

Feb

9°

0°

9mm

2d rain

Mar

17°

6°

19mm

3d rain

Apr

23°

12°

35mm

5d rain

May

28°

16°

59mm

6d rain

Jun

32°

21°

65mm

8d rain

Jul

33°

23°

85mm

13d rain

Aug

31°

22°

91mm

12d rain

Sep

25°

17°

97mm

9d rain

Oct

20°

12°

53mm

8d rain

Nov

13°

5°

22mm

3d rain

Dec

7°

-1°

3mm

1d rain

✓ Best Mar-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Jan

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions