Summer in China 2027: Where to Go from June to August

This page covers summer weather by region, the cooler places, crowds and holidays, what to book early and how to plan around the heat. For every month of the year, see when to visit China month by month.

What is the weather like in China in summer?

Summer is hot in most of China, and it is the rainy season in most places. The figures below are long-term averages from the China Meteorological Administration, not forecasts.

The north: Beijing, Xi'an and Harbin

Beijing's average high in July is about 32 °C. July is also its wettest month, with about 160 mm of rain. Xi'an is about as hot, with average highs of about 32 °C in June and July.

Harbin, in the far northeast, is milder. Its average July high is about 28 °C, and nights drop to about 19 °C.

The Yangtze: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Chongqing

This is the hottest stretch for most travellers. Average July highs are about 33 °C in Shanghai and Wuhan and about 34 °C in Hangzhou. Chongqing averages about 33 °C in July and August.

Nights stay warm too. Average July lows are about 25 to 26 °C. June is Hangzhou's wettest month, and August is Shanghai's.

The south: Guangzhou, Guilin and Hong Kong

Average highs are about 33 to 34 °C in Guangzhou and Guilin in July and August. June is the wettest month of the year in both cities. Guilin gets about 395 mm of rain in June.

In Hong Kong, typhoons can strike from May to November. July to September are the most likely months.

The high southwest and northwest: Yunnan, Qinghai and Dunhuang

Kunming's average highs are about 24 to 25 °C in June, July and August. Dali and Lijiang are similar. Summer is their rainy season, so expect showers. Kunming's wettest month is August.

Xining, the gateway to Qinghai Lake, has an average July high of about 25 °C. Nights drop to about 12 °C.

Dunhuang, on the old Silk Road, is hot, with an average July high of about 33 °C. But it is very dry, with about 11 mm of rain in July.

Where is it cooler in China in summer?

Go high or go north. These are the best places to escape the heat:

• Yunnan: Kunming, Dali and Lijiang stay mild all summer. See the Lijiang travel guide and Kunming and Dali.
• Qinghai: Xining has warm days and cool nights. It is the base for Qinghai Lake.
• Harbin and the northeast: summer days are warm rather than hot.

Guilin is at its wettest in June, so plan for rain. If you include Longji, see the Longji rice terraces. For a summer river trip, see the Yangtze cruise guide.

If your route must include Beijing, Xi'an or Shanghai, you can still go. Plan each day around the heat, as shown below.

How busy is China in summer?

July and August are the summer peak on China's railways, with many family trips in the school holidays. In 2026, the railway's summer season ran from 1 July to 31 August. It carried 954 million passengers. Popular sights are often crowded in these weeks.

June is before the school-holiday rush. The one holiday in summer 2027 is the Dragon Boat Festival on Wednesday 9 June. It is a single day off, so book trains early if you travel around that day. There are no public holidays in July or August 2027.

For festival dates, see Chinese festivals 2027. Travelling with children in the school holidays? Read China with kids.

What should you book early for a summer trip?

Book trains, hotels in the cool places and timed-entry sights as early as you can.

Train tickets usually go on sale 15 days before departure. For July and August, book as soon as sales open. Use 12306, the official China Railway site, with your passport. For help, see 12306 tickets for foreigners.

Book hotels in Yunnan and Qinghai well ahead for July and August. Big museums often use timed entry, so book them the day booking opens. Set up Alipay for foreigners before you fly.

How do you plan a trip in the summer heat?

Start early, rest at midday and go back out late. Do outdoor sights like walls, gardens and temples first thing in the morning. Spend the hot middle of the day in museums, a long lunch or your hotel. Go out again in the late afternoon or evening.

Pack light, loose clothes, a rain jacket or umbrella and sun protection. For a full list, see what to pack for China.

Trips that include this

• Yunnan Culture and Landscape, 10 days: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La, in the cooler highlands.
• Silk Road, 10 days: Xi'an, Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan and Dunhuang, with the sand dunes timed for early morning.
• Family China, 10 days: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu and Shanghai, for a school-holiday trip.
• See all our China tours.

LocalKey plans private trips for your own party only, at two levels under private China tours: Independent and Private Guided. On Independent, a local guide, a car and driver, and an airport pickup are optional add-ons on the days you choose, which helps on the hottest days.