Beijing, meaning Northern Capital, is the most northern city you will likely visit on your tour with us. The air in Beijing is dry – traditionally it rains rarely except in July and August when heavy downpours can occur. The best times to visit Beijing are in spring and autumn between March and June and September and November. During these periods day-time temperatures vary between 20ºC to 30ºC (68ºF to 86ºF). From December to February you should assume that the daytime temperatures could be as cold as -3ºC (19ºF), though it can be as warm as 14ºC (57ºF).
Xi’an, meaning Western Peace, like Luoyang is further south than Beijing but its weather pattern is broadly similar.
Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou are in eastern China. Rainfall here is not severe, but tends to peak with the heat in July and August. In recent years, there has been a sporadic mild typhoon effect from late August to early September. It is possible to visit these destinations year round, though autumn and spring are the best periods. During these times the daytime temperatures vary between 18ºC to 28ºC (64ºC to 82ºF). In winter the average temperature is about 9ºC (48ºF) rising in the summer months to 32ºC (89ºF).
Guilin is further south, and can be humid. When traveling to Guilin or Zhangjiajie, you will likely encounter some rain at any time of year. Precipitation, most severe during late spring, trails off from summer onwards. The year round daytime temperature in Guilin varies between 21ºC to 32ºC (70ºF to 89ºF).
Tibet, because of its altitude, receives dramatic temperature fluctuations between night and day. During the winter months, November to April, the night temperatures can be uncomfortably cold, however, daytime temperatures range between 6ºC and 14ºC (45ºF and 60ºF). The advantage of traveling to Lhasa during the winter, particularly during the Tibetan New Year, is the reduced number of other travelers. Although many charts will indicate a level of increased rainfall in Lhasa during August, it is a relatively low amount and shouldn’t dissuade visitors.
Spring usually brings fluctuating weather patterns across China. April is traditionally a windy month in Beijing however extensive tree planting around the city’s northern perimeters has done a great deal to break this up. Late spring also brings increased rainfall in the southern parts of China, for this reason, Imperial is reluctant to arrange tours to Huangshan before July in any given year. Guilin can also be subject to high rainfall in April and May, but this varies. There are typically sandstorms in Dunhuang coming from the Gobi desert, however the frequency and severity of these storms has decreased over the past years.
