China is a diverse nation and If you don't mind rain showers, spring (March–May) is one of the best times to visit China. The weather warms up, but not to the point of being oppressive, and there are fewer visitors than in the summer.
Photographers can notice lush landscapes, vibrant blossoms, and fresh green hues in mid-March to mid-May. Traveling in China in the spring is a beautiful and enjoyable experience.
China's Best Spring Vacation Spots
The following is a list of China's top spring destinations, all of which offer beautiful scenery and fun outdoor activities.
Yunnan — Flowers, Sunshine, and Liveliness
In the spring, Yunnan is bright, young, and warm. If you're looking for a breathtaking view or exciting outdoor activities, Yunnan has it all.
Luoping's rape flower seas take first place due to their scale, golden colour, and eye-catching landscapes. Outdoor lovers who are enjoying Erhai Lake's charms are bathed in Dali's warm sunshine. In Xishuangbanna, the grand Water-Splashing Festival brings new life to a tropical paradise.
Yunnan's spring highlights include:
- Hike up a secret trail on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and bike alongside Erhai Lake.
- Visit a Tibetan family near Shangri-La and enjoy a starry night on the grassland with a bonfire.
- In Shangri-La, visit a Songzanlin Monastery non-public dormitory.
Tibet — The Pink of Spring Mixes with Mysterious Culture
Spring in Tibet starts with peach blossoms in the Nyingchi valleys of southern Tibet.
Peach trees by the roadside, riverside, and valley sides are in full bloom after a cold winter underneath the snow-capped mountains. The frozen lakes are starting to thaw.
The monasteries gleaming against the clear sky emit the sound of chanting. Tibetans begin to cultivate their barley fields.
Since Tibet has yet to lose its winter coat of snow and ice, there are few visitors, and the beauty appears purer with more personal space for you to enjoy it.
Tibet's spring highlights include:
- Explore Nyingchi's peach blossoms and Nyingchi's Lulang Forest.
- Explore the blue ice of Tibet's largest glacier, Laigu Glacier, it is breathtaking.
- Watch monks at Sera Monastery engage in lively debates.
Western Sichuan —Marvelous Roads with Spectacular Plateau Scenery
Western Sichuan is the place to go if you want to experience Tibetan culture and plateau scenery without needing a Travel Permit and with a lower risk of altitude sickness.
In Jinchuan Valley and Danba, pears are blooming. Tibetan villages and monasteries are tucked away in a sea of flowers. On Tagong Grassland, pastoral life starts to awaken.
Western Sichuan's spring highlights include:
- Admire the beautiful pear blossoms and azalea blooms.
- On the vast Tagong Grassland, go horseback riding.
- Explore the Huiyuan Temple, Garze's only royal Tibetan temple.
Pleasant Painting-Inspiring Scenery in Guilin
In the spring, farmers use water buffalos to plough their fields and plant rice paddies. The Longji Rice Terraces are irrigated, and the sun gleams off the waterlogged paddies.
Spring rains cover the rivers, pinnacles, and the city itself in mist and fog, as though it were an ink drawing.
Guilin's spring highlights include:
- In Yulong River Ecological Park, try a 2-hour via ferrata (cable-protected cliff climb).
- Make and paint a paper fan in Fuli Ancient Town's "Chinese Painted Fan Town."
- Hike across the terraced fields of Longji.
- Discover a "mysterious" limestone cave with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.
Zhangjiajie is known for its lush forests and cloudy seas.
Because of the vibrant forests and cloud seas, spring is an excellent time to visit Zhangjiajie. Since there are less people around during this season, it is more relaxing. This could be the best season for you if you want to get away from the crowds.
Highlights of Zhangjiajie in the Spring:
- Bike around Tianmen Mountain's scenic and less-touristy side.
- At Hongyanling, try ferrata (cable-safe cliff challenges) (Red Rock Ridge).
- Hike among Zhangjiajie National Forest Park's incredible pillars and peaks.
- On the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, try bungee jumping.
Huangshan — Fresh Air and Rape Flowers
Spring in Huangshan is marked by brightly blooming flowers and fresh, crisp air. Spring is one of Huangshan's most beautiful seasons. On the Yellow Mountains, you could see seas of cloud and yellow rape flowers along the roadside.
The villages around the Yellow Mountains, such as Hongcun, were once thought to be ancient China's utopia.
Huangshan's spring highlights include:
- Ascend the Yellow Mountains to see sunrises, sunsets, and cloud seas.
- Visit the beautiful village of Hongcun, dubbed the "muse of artists."
- In Bishan village, escape to a rural utopia and see how artists have transformed this tiny area into a rural paradise.
Chaozhou — Delicacies and Chaoshan Culture
When the air is fragrant and young, and the temperatures are warmest, spring is the best time to enjoy Chaozhou's delicious food and cultural cornucopia.
You can always smell the aromas of food coming from the restaurants as you walk down the street — beef hot pot, fresh fish dumplings, crispy spring rolls, fermented bean curd cake...
Chaozhou's spring highlights include:
- In a teahouse in Chaozhou Old Town, try Chaozhou kung fu tea and watch Chaozhou opera.
- Paifang Street serves delicious Chaozhou cuisine.
- While learning about Chaozhou's past, visit Guangji Bridge, one of China's most popular bridge structures.
Dunhuang - a Silk Road pearl.
China, India, Greece, and Islam, the "world's four ancient civilizations," mingled there, transforming Dunhuang into an international stage full of exotic traditions and ancient legends.
The spring weather is perfect for outdoor visits because it is mild and windy. While admiring the spectacular natural scenery in Dunhuang, you can feel calm and relaxed outside.
Dunhuang's spring highlights include:
- The Mogao Caves are rich in history and art.
- On a mud slab constructed from the same materials as the Mogao Caves, build your own unique mural.
- Explore Devil City (Yadan landscape) to see a wind- and sand-sculpted masterpiece.
Spring Travel Suggestions
We suggest visiting western China regions such as Yunnan and Tibet if you can't tolerate high humidity. In the spring, southern cities can be muddy and humid.
Peach blossoms in Nyingchi, pear flowers in Western Sichuan, cherry blossoms in Wuhan, and rape flowers in Wuyuan and Guilin are among the highlights of the flower season, which runs from mid-March to mid-April.
In the season, there are two major public holidays: Tomb-Sweeping Day (April 3–5) and May Day (May 1–5). Then, in droves, Chinese people can ride. During these holidays, make your reservations as soon as possible.
China's Spring Weather
Early in the spring, China typically experiences a major winter thaw. Hong Kong and other areas in the far south, on the other hand, don't even have a season. Spring there begins warm rather than cold.
As the monsoon season approaches, mild wintry drizzle is replaced by increasingly heavy spring (thunder) showers.
Rain is to be predicted, but that does not deter you from going on a walk. At major tourist attractions, vendors selling rain gear and umbrellas are abundant, and every convenience is given to make spring touring comfortable, right down to canopy roofs on Yangshuo rafts!
China's Springtime: North vs. South
Spring in China lasts from mid-March to mid-May on average, but due to the large difference in latitude, northern China's spring lasts longer (April–May) and southern China's spring lasts shorter (March–April).
In spring, temperatures in northern and western China begin to warm during the day. The evening hours, on the other hand, will carry a chill that can drop below freezing, so travelers should bring warm clothing. In the dry north and west, the monsoon is barely noticeable.
Temperatures are warmer in central and southern China, but there are heavier rain showers, which help to cool things down.
Pack an umbrella or raincoat, as well as thin layers of clothes, so you can adjust to any temperatures you encounter. The temperatures are nice, but the humidity is not.
