Best time to visit China
China's spectacular scenery is flecked with seasonal shades, from the pink azaleas in spring to the crimson leaves of autumn trees.![]()
The best time to visit China is not easily surmised: like ours, their seasons are defined, but they’re a big country with a climate that varies from region to region. You can travel year-round, but you must be prepared for what the seasons might throw at you – the south is subtropical with sweltering summers, the north bears the brunt of harsh winters and central China takes a bit of both. You can travel around more comfortably in spring and autumn; a handy rule of thumb is to travel from south to north in spring and from north to south in summer.
Our China Holidays
China highlights tour, tailor made
Walk along the Great Wall and relax in the stunning LiRiver
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US $2319 to US $2719
11 days
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China culture & hiking holiday
A wonderful experience of real China
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US $2830 to US $3600
14 days
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China holiday and Yangtze river cruise
A comprehensive China itinerary covering its length and breadth
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£3599 to £3999
20 days
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Silk Road holidays, Central Asia
Journey along the Old Silk Road
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£4395 to £4525
22 days
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Great Wall of China walking holiday
Trek along various contrasting sections of the wall
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£2099 to £2399
10 days
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Small group tour of Yunnan, China
China's most diverse & fascinating region - Yunnan Province
From
£1950
10 days
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China on a shoestring small group holiday
Experience the real China.
From
£2901 to £3219
22 days
inc UK flights
China tailor made holiday
Explore the Terracotta Warriors, Forbidden City and the Great Wall
From
£3019
16 days
inc UK flights
China 8 day tour
Discover the Great Wall, Terracotta Army and Shanghai.
From
£1315
8 days
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Yunnan trekking holiday in China, tailor made
Off the beaten track trip
From
US $1997 to US $2585
10 days
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China tailor made tour
A combination of metropolis and ancient gardens
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US $1099 to US $3349
8 days
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China Silk Road tour
Cities and beautiful landscapes of China’s western expanse
From
US $3576 to US $3866
15 days
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The Essence of China vacation
Explore cultural & religious heritage
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£2660 to £2925
19 days
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China photography tour, Guangxi & Hunan
Photo tour Yangshuo, Avatar Mountains, Phoenix Ancient Town
From
£4800
15 days
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Trans Mongolian tour, St. Petersburg to Hong Kong
Overland rail from the Baltic Sea to the South China Sea
From
£9590
29 days
ex flights
China strenuous walking holiday
Walking in China for those looking for a challenge
From
£2037
14 days
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Beijing and Great Wall of China walking tour
Unique hiking experience on Really Wild Great Wall in China
From
US $1422 to US $2289
8 days
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Accessible cultural China tour
Classic China Trip with wonderful cultural experience
From
US $2709 to US $3824
10 days
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Southwest China tour, Miao festivals & villages
Experience the Miao's minority's custom at Guiyang.
From
US $919 to US $1409
6 days
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China family holiday, 15 days
Perfect for a family's first trip to China
From
£4940
15 days
inc UK flights
Horse riding tour around Hanas Lake, China
Urumqi, Burqin, Hemu, Karakul lake, Hanas lake, Jiadengyu
From
US $2367 to US $2940
7 days
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Badain Jaran Desert trekking tour, China
Trek in Inner Mongolia desert and the China Silk Road
From
US $5735
18 days
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China family holiday in Sichuan
Chengdu, Leshan Giant Buddha, Mt. Emei, Anren Ancient Town
From
US $1152 to US $1371
6 days
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Sichuan and Yunnan holiday in China
Pandas, Tibetan monasteries and spectacular scenery
From
US $1658 to US $2847
14 days
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China and Japan holiday, Beijing to Tokyo
Combine the highlights of China and Japan
From
£3299 to £3569
16 days
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St Petersburg to Beijing winter tour, 18-35
An epic winter adventure that's not for the faint hearted!
From
£2355
19 days
ex flights
12 day Great Wall of China hiking tour
Experience the best parts of the eastern Wall
From
US $2373 to US $2468
12 days
ex flights
Silk Road 30 day overland tour
Travel through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan & China
From
£6295
30 days
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China, month by month
Our top China Holiday
China highlights tour, tailor made
Walk along the Great Wall and relax in the stunning LiRiver
From
US $2319 to US $2719
11 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about China or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Responsible Travel recommends
Olly Pemberton from our holiday specialists Exodus shares his opinion on when is the best time to visit China: “Spring is a great time to visit China because it’s off-season for local tourists and the temperature is warmer; in the wintertime Beijing can get very, very cold with temperatures dropping to -20C. If you want to visit the Great Wall, for example, it gets covered in snow in December, which may make it a photographer’s dream, but also makes it quite dangerous to walk on. I think the height of summer is best avoided because temperatures can soar and likewise the beginning of October is ‘Golden Week’, which is when the whole of the country is on holiday and it’s a nightmare to get around. I was there during that time and visited the Forbidden Palace in Beijing and I literally could not move for people; it’s easy to forget that China is huge and a lot of the Chinese have never been to Beijing, so we were all tourists together.”
Festivals & events in China
Duanwu Jie
Duanwu Jie or The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Taoist celebration held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (sometime in May or June). Dragon boat races in long canoes painted with bright colours and powered by up to 80 rowers take centre stage, their crew fuelled by zongzi (filled and steamed glutinous rice balls) and xiong huang (a herby rice wine with protective powers).
More about China
Our China travel guide features everything from advice on food and shopping to a brief history of China.
Our China highlights include an interactive map, as well as a list of classic itineraries and travel times.
The list of things to do in China is as long as the Great Wall - start your itinerary planning here.
From Beijing to Chengdu, Shanghai to Xi'an, its cities offer insights into China's past, present and future.
A brief history of China's terracotta army, and the best way to visit the terracotta warriors from Xi'an.
Read our guide to learn how to visit the Great Wall of China, and why the quieter bits speak loudest.
It's in scenes of local life that you’ll get a true picture of what it’s really like to live in Beijing.
Discover the joys of walking in China, including where go on a China hiking holiday.
Cycling is an important part of Chinese culture so it makes perfect sense to explore on two wheels.
Train travel in China is not only an easy option, but also a fantastic way to get to know the country.
The best way to get the most from the Forbidden City is a tour with a knowledgeable local guide.
Tours to rural China let you stay in local communities, to see a side of China that most visitors don’t.
Chinese food is hard to define, because the country is so vast - every region has its own distinct cuisine.
From pandas to kung-fu masters, mud baths and waterfalls, introducing the best family activities in China.
These China travel tips from our expert partners will help you get around easily and safely in China.
China has got tourism problems; we've got the low down on what you can do to travel better in China.
From cycling to walking, exploring Yunnan or the Great Wall, our China travel guides are an indispensable resource.
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