Lunar New Year
China’s biggest family-travel season moves with the lunar calendar. Trains and flights fill early, and some small restaurants and shops close while families celebrate.
WHEN TO TRAVEL
China,
month by month.
There’s no single best time to visit China. The right month depends on where you hope to go, the weather you enjoy and how much you mind crowds. Our guide lays out the trade-offs, including the weeks we’d avoid.
Explore all 12 months
THE YEAR AT A GLANCE
Four seasons.
Different reasons to go.
We often recommend spring or autumn for a first journey. Summer is better higher up or beside the water, while winter brings quieter cities and some very good-value stays. One holiday week can change all of that, so check the dates below.
01MAR–MAY
Spring
Gardens, grottoes and green river country
Mild days suit city walks and countryside routes. Avoid the early-May holiday if you can.02JUN–AUG
Summer
Rivers, mountains and cooler high ground
The lowlands can be hot and humid. Head higher or travel by water, and book early for July and August.03SEP–NOV
Autumn
Clearer skies and good days on foot
Often an easy season for cities and time outdoors. Skip the National Day holiday in early October if you can.
04DEC–FEB
Winter
Quiet cities, warm kitchens and northern light
Often good value outside Lunar New Year. Pack well for the north, or finish somewhere milder.DATES WE CHECK FIRST
The week can matter more than the month.
Labor Day holiday
A short, sharp travel rush. Popular cities and scenic areas become noticeably busier; the second half of May is usually much easier.
School holidays
Family travel peaks in both months. Highland lodges, popular trains and experienced guides often book up first.
National Day holiday
Our clearest advice: avoid the first week if you can. Major sights are packed and prices are at their highest; later October is much calmer.
Exact holiday arrangements are announced each year. Qingming, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival also affect travel for a few days, so we confirm the official calendar before recommending a route.
WHERE TO GO · MONTH BY MONTH
Start with the dates
you have.
01
Winter
January
Beijing · Pingyao · Taiyuan
North China is cold, but its old cities can feel wonderfully quiet.
If you are happy to dress for the cold, January can be a lovely time for Beijing, Pingyao and Taiyuan. The old streets and temple courtyards are quieter, and a steaming bowl of noodles is especially welcome after a morning outside. Keep a museum nearby for windy afternoons.
- Conditions
- Expect cold, dry weather, short daylight hours and occasional strong winds. Snow and icy paving are possible.
- How busy
- Low
- Usual prices
- Good value
WORTH KNOWING
New Year’s Day brings a short holiday bump around 1 January. Lunar New Year can fall in late January or February, so check the calendar before counting on a quiet month.
02
Winter
February
Hong Kong · Xiamen · Fujian coast
Milder days on the southeast coast, with Lunar New Year dates to plan around.
For February, stay close to Hong Kong or Xiamen rather than lose days on a long cross-country route. Both offer waterfront walks, old neighbourhoods and excellent market breakfasts; a few days on the Fujian coast make a gentle finish.
- Conditions
- Days are often mild to cool, but damp or overcast spells are common and evenings can feel chilly.
- How busy
- High
- Usual prices
- Higher
WORTH KNOWING
Lunar New Year can fall in late January or February, and the wider travel rush stretches across several weeks. Trains and flights fill early, while some small businesses change their hours; mainland China and Hong Kong follow separate holiday calendars.
03
Spring
March
Shanghai · Suzhou · Hangzhou
Jiangnan is lovely in March—just pack for rain.
We like this time of year for linking Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou. Historic streets, gardens and lakeside paths are beginning to green up. On cool or wet days, there is plenty to do in museums and tea houses.
- Conditions
- Expect cool, changeable weather, light rain and damp mornings, with more comfortable afternoons as the month goes on.
- How busy
- Moderate
- Usual prices
- Typical
WORTH KNOWING
When Lunar New Year falls late, holiday travel can stay busy into early March. Blossom and early-tea timing depends on the weather, and well-known gardens and lakeside paths fill up at weekends.
04
Spring
April
Luoyang · Dengfeng · Xi’an
April suits a slower journey through Luoyang, Dengfeng and Xi’an.
Give Longmen’s grottoes, Songshan’s religious sites and Xi’an’s walls and old neighbourhoods separate days. There is a great deal of archaeology and living history here, and the journey is much more rewarding when it is not squeezed into a rushed itinerary.
- Conditions
- The central plains are generally mild, though wind, passing rain and large changes between morning and afternoon are common.
- How busy
- High
- Usual prices
- Higher
WORTH KNOWING
The Qingming holiday falls in early April, and Luoyang’s peony season keeps local demand high through much of the month—especially at weekends. Flowering dates still move with the weather.
05
Spring
May
Guilin · Yangshuo · Li River
After the holiday rush, the Li River is worth a little rain.
The holiday rush makes the first few days hard work, but later May can be beautiful around Guilin and Yangshuo. With higher water and vivid green hills, this is a good time for a boat day, village walks and an easy cycle or electric-buggy outing. Keep one afternoon free in case heavy rain changes the plan.
- Conditions
- It is warm and humid, with regular showers and a very green landscape. Heavier rain can disrupt outdoor plans.
- How busy
- Moderate
- Usual prices
- Typical
WORTH KNOWING
The Labor Day break around 1 May brings some of the year’s biggest crowds and highest room rates. Later May is usually calmer, although rain can still affect river trips and countryside activities.
06
Summer
June
Chongqing · Yangtze River · Yichang
For June, we like the slower rhythm of a Yangtze journey.
Start in Chongqing, then let the boat carry you through the Three Gorges to Yichang. Early starts make city walks more comfortable, and time on board gives you a welcome pause between Chongqing’s steep streets and the river-engineering sites near Yichang.
- Conditions
- Expect hot, humid and wet weather, with possible storms. River views and shore visits may change with weather and operating conditions.
- How busy
- Moderate
- Usual prices
- Typical
WORTH KNOWING
Dragon Boat Festival moves between late May and June. If it falls during your trip, expect busier trains, flights and hotels for several days. Confirm sailing times, water conditions and shore visits close to departure.
07
Summer
July
Xining · Qinghai Lake · Qilian Mountains
Qinghai is cooler than the lowlands, but altitude sets the pace.
Begin in Xining and keep the first walks short before continuing to Qinghai Lake and the Qilian Mountains. The scenery is broad and open, but the drives are long; allow enough nights rather than trying to race across the northwest.
- Conditions
- Days can feel mild at elevation and nights are cool, but the sun is intense. Fast-moving storms and large temperature changes are normal.
- How busy
- High
- Usual prices
- Higher
WORTH KNOWING
School holidays increase demand for rail tickets, drivers, guides and the limited number of plateau lodges. Altitude and long drives are good reasons to keep the first few days gentle.
08
Summer
August
Hulunbuir · Inner Mongolia · Changbaishan
Choose Hulunbuir or Changbaishan, and give it enough time.
Both regions offer space and cooler nights, but they are not sensible additions to the same short trip. Choose Hulunbuir for grassland stays, or Changbaishan for forest and volcanic landscapes, and allow enough time for transfers.
- Conditions
- Weather is warm and changeable, with possible rain and cooler nights outside the cities. At Changbaishan, high wind or heavy rain can reduce visibility or temporarily close mountain areas.
- How busy
- Very high
- Usual prices
- Peak
WORTH KNOWING
This is peak school-holiday season, so good lodges, guides and transport book early. Local festivals can tighten availability further; check confirmed dates before booking the trip.
09
Autumn
September
Beijing · Pingyao · Taiyuan
September is usually a comfortable month for Beijing and Shanxi.
Once children are back at school, Beijing, Pingyao and Taiyuan are generally easier to book and explore. Use the extra breathing room for longer walks in Pingyao and more time with Shanxi’s temples and merchant courtyards.
- Conditions
- North China is often drier, with warm days early in the month and cooler, clearer evenings as autumn develops.
- How busy
- Low–moderate
- Usual prices
- Good value
WORTH KNOWING
Mid-Autumn Festival can fall in September or early October, bringing a brief travel surge. Harvest dates, autumn colour and the first truly cool days also shift with the weather.
10
Autumn
October
Xi’an · Luoyang · Dengfeng
Avoid the first week if you can; late October is a different trip.
From the second week onward, central China often has clear, comfortable days for Xi’an’s walls, Longmen’s grottoes and Songshan. In planning terms, Golden Week and the rest of October really are two separate seasons.
- Conditions
- Days range from crisp to mild, nights become noticeably cooler and walking is generally comfortable later in the month.
- How busy
- Moderate
- Usual prices
- Typical
WORTH KNOWING
The National Day holiday fills the first week of October. It is extremely crowded and prices are often at their peak; from the second week, crowds ease and prices usually return to normal.
11
Autumn
November
Guilin · Yangshuo · Hong Kong
November is a comfortable month to pair Yangshuo with Hong Kong.
Spend a few quieter days around the Li River, then finish with Hong Kong’s harbour walks, neighbourhood restaurants and independent shops. The two places feel very different, but both are easier to explore on foot than during the heat of midsummer.
- Conditions
- Southern China is often mild and drier, with cool mornings inland and comfortable evenings on the coast.
- How busy
- Moderate
- Usual prices
- Typical
WORTH KNOWING
Guilin and Yangshuo are often the quieter, better-value part of this route. Hong Kong can stay busy and expensive in November, especially around large trade fairs and events; Li River boat schedules still depend on current water conditions.
12
Winter
December
Shanghai · Suzhou · Hong Kong
Shanghai and Suzhou are quieter; Hong Kong offers a milder finish.
Cool weather suits museums, architecture and unhurried visits to Suzhou’s gardens. Hong Kong adds warmer days, lively neighbourhoods and excellent food, though December there is not reliably beach weather.
- Conditions
- Jiangnan can be cold and damp. Hong Kong is generally milder, but cool, windy spells are still possible.
- How busy
- Moderate
- Usual prices
- Higher
WORTH KNOWING
Shanghai and Suzhou are usually the quieter part of this route. Christmas holidays, year-end visitors and major events can push Hong Kong room demand and prices higher. Some attractions also keep shorter winter hours.
ABOUT THE LABELS
How to read the crowd
and price notes.
“How busy” and “usual prices” show the usual demand and pricing in the places we recommend for each month, except during the holiday or event listed in that month’s “Worth knowing” note. They’re a sensible starting point, not a quote: a trade fair, festival or unusual spell of weather can change one city quickly. Before we suggest flights, trains or hotels, we check the official mainland China and Hong Kong holiday calendars for your travel dates alongside live availability.
DATES VARY EACH YEAR · CHECK BEFORE BOOKINGPhoto credits
Strider9527 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized for web; displayed with responsive cropping. · Photographed on 28 March 2024.
HoweyYuan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized for web; displayed with responsive cropping. · Photographed on 6 July 2024.
ChinaHue licensed launch photography · Rights cleared · Displayed with responsive cropping. · Autumn foliage is visible in the licensed original.
Picrazy2 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped and resized for web. · Photographed on 24 December 2017.
PLAN AROUND YOUR DATES
Already know when you can travel?
That’s enough to start.
Tell us your dates, the kind of weather you enjoy and how you feel about busy places. We’ll suggest where those weeks work well—and tell you if we think a different route would be better.
Tailor My Trip Browse travel resources