China by Timing

Choose your compass / By Timing

By Timing

China changes with the calendar. Pick a month to see where to go, and which weeks to book early.

Lunar New Year

Late January to February

Labour Day holiday

Around 1 May

National Day Golden Week

1–7 October

Typical windows; exact dates shift each year. Tickets sell out and prices climb, so book early.

This month

October

Hairy crab in Shanghai, chrysanthemums in Kaifeng, clear skies across the west.

Shanghai · Kaifeng · Kashgar

Month by month

January

Ice and snow season.

Harbin · Lijiang

FebruaryHoliday

Lunar New Year: book early, expect crowds.

Harbin · Lijiang

March

Spring blossoms begin.

Nanjing · Hangzhou

April

Peonies and the first tea.

Luoyang · Hangzhou

MayHoliday

Early-May holiday, then mild weather in the desert northwest.

Dunhuang · Dali

June

Mushroom season begins in Yunnan.

Kunming · Dunhuang

July

Escape to the cool north.

Harbin · Hulunbuir · Datong

August

Torch Festival in Dali, stars over the desert.

Dali · Zhongwei

September

Clear autumn skies open up the west.

Kashgar · Dali

OctoberNow · Holiday week

Hairy crab, osmanthus and the National Day holiday.

Shanghai · Hangzhou · Kashgar · Kaifeng

November

Chrysanthemums and mild southern weather.

Kaifeng · Guangzhou · Shenzhen

December

Ice season opens in the far north.

Harbin · Shenzhen · Lijiang