Weather is one of the biggest concerns a traveller has 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. The daytime temperatures in Harbin in the winter would be around -30C (-22F) and night time temperatures be even lower. While the temperature in Shanghai would be over 35C (95F) for most of summer. So before you travel to China it is strongly recommended that you check the conditions first. China is vast, and the climate and conditions vary widely from region to region.

Different kinds of weather: Beijing in March will be like Washington DC at the same period—sometimes quite chilly, often windy, occasionally dusty--then warmer by late April, and in the 90’s by May; Traveling in mid-China will hit cool to warm weather (and very cold if climbing a mountain); Shanghai and Hong Kong in May/June will be in the high 90’s, with humidity to match. North-Central China (Beijing, Xian) is similar in climate to Nebraska and Kansas, with less snow and rain during the winter. Late winter and early spring bring regular dust storms and haze. South-central China (Shanghai, Guanzhou) is comparable to the Gulf Coast states, through winter storms do not occur as often. Summer is hot and humid with frequent rain. Winter is shorter, cooler, and often overcast with drizzle. Northeast China (Shenyang, Harbin) is similar to Minnesota. Summer is hot and dry, and winter is logn and very cold. Xinjiang (Urumqi, Kashgar) experiences severe climatic conditions with dramatic daily temperature swings. Summer can get very hot during the day, but generally cools off at night. Similarly, winter temperatures warm up during the day but plummet at night. Tibet (Lhasa, Xigaze) also sees marked changes. When the sun shines, temperatures reach the mid-80s in the summer and the mid-60s in the winter. At night or when it rains or snows, temperatures drop significantly. Precipitation is minimal in the winter; summer showers are more common but occur mainly at night.

Before decide when to take a tour, it is worth checking carefully the weather conditions of each city on the itinerary. Check out local weather for major Chinese cities. Of course, 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 for travel anywhere in the country. In the north, the winters are cold, and summers are warm, with moist monsoon air streams making it hot (80% of China's rainfall occurs between late May and early October, mostly in the Southern regions). June through August is a good time to visit central and northern China. Spring and autumn are the best months for travel in Southern China. The months of March and April are the lower-priced shoulder season; while the lowest price, off-season travel, is from November through the winter months.

This is when adventuresome travellers are rewarded with unbelievably low prices and far fewer fellow tourists. Regardless the time of the year, a visitor will always be rewarded with charming scenery throughout China.