Weather is one of the biggest concerns a traveler has, and it is always a good idea to check the weather situation for the specific time of the year you want to go to a certain destination, especially if visiting a country for the first time. With a country the size of China it is even more important, as there can be extremes in climate from North to South especially in the winter.
In North China, the winter is generally long and cold, lasting from December through March. Temperatures are often below zero and you will be likely to see snow. Summer can be very hot and quite humid. Summer lasts from May through the end of August. Ideal time to visit Northern China is spring and autumn when days can be pleasantly warm but the nights very chilly.
Autumn is likely to be the best time to visit Central China. Spring can be difficult with occasional long winter or early wet season, although mid-April through mid-May are usually very nice. Winters in Central China often feel colder than they really are due to the cold moisture in the air. You will seldom see snow and temperatures may not reach freezing. Summers are long, hot and humid, lasting from April through September/October. Autumn usually sees clearer skies, still warm temperatures and without the humidity.
In South China it is generally wetter and high temperatures are sustained longer. Winter, From January to March is short, but can feel very cold. April to September is the rainy season where temperatures and humidity reach highs. Along the southeast cost of China, the typhoon season is from July through September. Like Central China, there is probably no ideal time to visit, but autumn is probably where you get the best chance to see clearer skies with warm temperatures and without the humidity.
The Northwestern China becomes more like central Asia than eastern Asia. It is here that the traveler will feel the extremes of Chinese weather. There is not much rainfall, so any time of the year will be relatively dry. Winters are very cold, and in summer the heat and sun can be very strong. Best times to visit are spring and autumn, when the temperatures are milder.
The winter in Tibet can be very fierce. Winds whipping across the plateau coupled with plunging temperatures makes a visit in the winter months to Tibet something you should prepare well for. Temperatures are much more varied in the summer months, where it can be freezing before sunrise and hit 30C-35C by noon. The best time to visit Tibet is in the spring and autumn when temperatures are milder and less extreme.
If you choose the most attractive season to visit, you also choose the time when tourist spots and hotels are most stuffed. While China is a year-round destination, the months of May, September and October are ideal months to travel anywhere in the country. This of course also means that if you choose the shoulder periods or off season to visit you might be getting a better deal for your visit, but remember to bring the right kind of clothing so you can get around even if the weather conditions are not the best.
