Travel in China's Typhoon Season

Typhoons hit China more often than any other country in Asia. On the average, about 7 or 8 land each year. The Shanghai region is so large, densely-populated, and low-lying that if a strong typhoon ever hit the city, there could be great devastation. The Pearl River Delta area is considered by specialists to be in even greater risk of storm surge, flooding and damaging high winds from a typhoon.

Since 2015 and 2016 has an unusually strong El Nino weather pattern, there has been an unusual number of strong typhoons landing in or coming near China, and many more are expected through 2016. Here is information about the high, medium, and low risk areas of China for typhoons along with traveler's tips about what to do in case a strong typhoon hits.

China Typhoon Facts

This might be surprising to people, but of all the metropolitan regions in the world, the Swiss Re's insurance company ranks Shanghai as 8th riskiest and the Pearl River Delta 3rd riskiest for major natural disaster in the whole world. Some other cities in the world face earthquakes, but China's coastal cities are mainly endangered by typhoons.

There is little danger for tourists overall though because the chance of a direct hit each year in these cities is low. However, it isn't known whether Shanghai or the Pearl River region is well prepared for a direct hit of a strong typhoon because there hasn't been a direct hit for decades.

Duration and severity: Storm winds usually only last a few hours unless the eye passes nearby. Then high winds may last for about 8 hours.

Storm Surges

The storm surge of even a fairly common Category 2 typhoon is 6 to 8 feet (2.5 meters), the storm surge of a Category 3 is 9 to 12 feet, and that of a Category 5 is greater than 18 feet (5.5 meters).

Most at Risk in China: Three Low Elevation River Delta Cities

Tianjin Port

Shanghai is built on the alluvial plain of the Yangtze River, and it is an unusually flat and low lying megacity of 25 million people. The average elevation is only four meters including some hills. Most of the city is less than two meters (6 feet) above sea level. The famous Pudong central business district is at an elevation of about one meter. The main problems would be a high storm surge and/or heavy rainfall that could flood most of Shanghai.

The Pearl River Delta: Likewise, the Pearl River and tributaries are low lying parts of the big cities of Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shenzhen. Some of Shenzhen was built on marshland. Zhuhai's Xi River is a major storm flood prone area in the same delta area. High winds would endanger 17 million people in the Pearl River area, and a typhoon storm surge there would endanger 5 million people in that river delta.

Tianjin is built in the Hai River Delta. In the low risk region north of Jiangsu Province, it stands out as a uniquely endangered big city according to Swiss Re's. The elevation ranges from two to five meters in most of the city which makes the city vulnerable to a typhoon storm surge.

Typhoon Season and Changing Climate

The further north in China, the less of a chance of a typhoon, and the later in the year a typhoon is likely to land. Since the 1970s, there have been many less typhoons in Guangdong than previously. There has been a shift in the path of typhoons northwards, and the strength of typhoons may be increasing.

El Nino 2015 to 2016: An unusually strong El Nino developed in 2015 that has been breaking records. The record number of ten Category 5 typhoons set in 1997 may be broken in 2015. Unusually many strong typhoons have been developing and landing in China this year.

A 50-year record for super typhoons may be set in 2015, and meteorologists are predicting that 2016 may be warmer than 2015 since the El Nino is still developing. If this happens, then more and stronger typhoons or other destructive storms may arrive then.

China's Typhoon Signals

The National Meteorological Center uses four warning signals like that of Shanghai. But each city seems to have adopted warning signals for their own conditions.

Shanghai Region and Guangzhou

In Shanghai and Guangzhou, if a typhoon approaches, there are four warning signals that are broadcast for the public:

• Signal blue: The signal is used when a storm with winds of 31 mph (50 kph) or slightly lower is 24 hours from the city and approaching. It is a warning to keep alert.
• Signal yellow: A storm with winds of about 41 mph (66 kph) may arrive within 24 hours.
• Signal orange: A storm with winds of about 58 mph (95 kph) is predicted to arrive within 12 hours. A signal orange might last for a day or less. This warning gives the public a chance to prepare their home or go to a safe place and all schools are closed.
• Signal red: Expect a typhoon with winds of at least 72 mph (117 kph) to arrive within 6 hours. A signal red is rare. Destructive force is expected. Flights and bullet trains are generally canceled.

Shenzhen

Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong

Shenzhen has a new warning system that is basically like Shanghai's. The main difference is that there is an additional initial signal white that is posted if a storm might hit the city within 48 hours. White is the lowest warning signal. Schools may close if a signal yellow is issued.

Hong Kong and Macau

Hong Kong and Macau share similar warning signals. Instead of colors, numbers are posted. 

There are five signals that are broadcast for the public in case of a typhoon. There are no signals in between these such as 2 or 5 or numbers other than the five signals below.

• Signal 1: Possible typhoon, keep alert.
• Signal 3: Expected gusts of wind up to 110 km per hour with possibly heavy rain. Public transportation still runs, but harbor cruises and some flights might be cancelled. Some stores and businesses might close, and kindergartens close.
• Signal 8: Gale winds or stronger winds up to 180 km per hour are imminent. Everything closes down: schools, offices, tours, public transport, taxis, shops, restaurants, ferries, trains, and flights. A signal 8 might last for a day or less. Before a signal 8 is issued, plenty of warning is given several hours in advance to give the public a chance to return home or go to a safe place.
• Signal 9 or 10: Expect a direct hit with the eye of the storm passing over the city. There are hurricane strength winds. A signal 9 or 10 is rare. Destructive force is expected.

Of the two cities, Macau is more in endanger of destruction if a typhoon hits since much of it, such as the Cotai Strip, is at a low elevation. See more Hong Kong typhoon information and our Traveler's Tips.

The Four Risk Zones for Typhoons

Here are some facts and information about the four typhoon zones: coastal Guangxi, Guandong Province and Fujian Province (high risk); coastal Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Jiangsu Province (medium risk); coastal Shandong, Hebei, and Liaoning, Heilongjiang and Beijing (low risk); and the rest of China (no risk).

Inland dissipation: In general, a typhoon loses about 60% or 70% of its strength when it travels about 100 miles (160 kilometers) inland. For example, a medium-strength Category 3 typhoon (winds 110 mph) downgrades to a tropical storm with winds of about 39 mph (60 kph) about 100 miles inland. So regions that are more than 160 kilometers away from the coast are generally safe from typhoon destruction unless it is located on a big river where heavy rains might cause flooding.

High Risk: Coastal Guangdong, Hainan, and Guangxi

Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau

The Li River, Guilin

For Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and the other cities, the peak months for typhoons are July, August, and September when there is a 50 or 60 percent chance of typhoon each month. During the other months of the typhoon season that extends from May to early November, there is a 30 percent chance of typhoon. Hong Kong climate and weather forecast>>

Historically, in the last century, Guangdong received about 1/3 about all of China's typhoons, but the path of typhoons has shifted northwards in the last 15 years. There are two areas of main risk. One is the Xi River area of Zhuhai. The other is the Pearl River area and the Shiziyang (獅子洋) tidal straight and delta. The river flows down to Shiziyang straight that is between Dongguan on the east and the Panyu and Nansha areas of Guangzhou on the west. These are densely populated metropolitan areas most at risk for a serious flood. Swiss Re calculated that a flood would occur more than twice per century.

Flooding risk: Most of Guangzhou and Shenzhen is expected to be little affected by a severe flood. But the Yantian District of Shenzhen is on the Pacific facing coast, and it may experience a storm surge. Hong Kong is rarely affected by flooding according to Swiss Re's calculations. Most of Hong Kong is at high enough elevation to protect from storm surge or flood, and the major urban districts are protected by the topography of Victoria Harbor.

High winds: In the whole Pearl River area, Hong Kong and Macau, the destructive winds from a direct hit by a strong Category 5 typhoon is a danger.

Typhoon hits on Hong Kong are rare: Since 1987 there has only been one typhoon to hit the city. There was also a near miss in 2012.

Guangxi Province and Hainan

The beach in Hainan Province

Highest number of typhoons annually: Hainan and Zhanjiang peninsula north of it stand out as the area along the southern coast that receives almost 1 typhoon a year since 1950.

Rammasun, July 2014: The super typhoon landed in July of 2014 and was the strongest to hit Hainan since 1973. Winds were over 150 mph or 240 kph.

Mujigae, October 2015: Mujigae, October 2015: The Category 4 typhoon with winds of about 210 kph (130 mph) first brushed by Hainan's northeast coast and then landed at Zhanjiang near Guangzhou on October 4, 2015. Two hundred thousand people were evacuated beforehand, and more than 20 people were killed. Much damage was caused by associated tornadoes.

The typhoon struck during China's National Day holidays, and tens of thousands of tourists were in Hainan at the time. It disrupted bullet train service on the island and flights to the island, but there was little or no damage to the island's beaches and hotels. This typhoon shared the same name as a tropical storm that landed in Hainan in 2009.

Medium Risk: Coastal Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Jiangsu

September and October are the most likely months for a typhoon. The end of July to early November is Shanghai's typhoon season. Shanghai's climate and weather forecast>>

The Yangtze River bridge

Recent typhoons: Though the topology puts the area of the Yangtze River in danger, typhoons land less often than the southern area. Only three typhoons have landed within 200 miles of Shanghai in 35 years. In 1997, a typhoon of category 1 (137 kph or 85 mph winds) landed 180 miles (289 kilometers) from Shanghai and 240 people died.

Yangtze River basin: For about two hundred or three hundred kilometers inland from the coast, the Yangtze River area is flood prone. This area include Suzhou and Nanjing. A major typhoon might flood the region.

Recent Major Typhoons in the Region

Chan-hom: because of a strong El Nino, typhoons have been unusually active in 2015. On July 11, 2015, a category 2 typhoon with winds of about 100 mph (160 kph) called Chan-hom landed at Zhoushan City that is about 155 kilometers or 96 miles from Shanghai. Wind speeds at Shanghai's Pudong Airport were low with a peak gust of 96 kph or 56 mph. In preparation for this storm, more than a million people were evacuated from coastal areas and bullet trains and flights were cancelled.

Low Risk: Shandong Province and Northern Coastal Areas

These northern areas of China only receive a typhoon every 10 years or so. Compared with the areas southwards where many cities face some danger from storm surge, only the Tianjin area in the whole region faces a significant risk.

Generally No Risk: Inland China

The Forbidden City in Beijing

The rest of China including the popular tourist cities of Guilin and Kunming face almost no danger from typhoons. The major exceptions are Wuhan and to a lesser extent Beijing. 

• Wuhan is listed by Swiss Re as a city at risk for a major river flood. It is built at the juncture of the Yangtze River and Han River, and much of it is low lying.
• Beijing also faces a chance of major flooding if a typhoon hits the region. As it dissipates, a strong typhoon can bring heavy rains many hundreds of miles inland.

Travelers' Tips for Typhoon Season

• Keep appraised of the weather information once the signal blue is posted.
• In case of inclement weather, carry rain gear.
• In case of a signal yellow, consider leaving the city you are in to enjoy touring somewhere else. Be aware that flights and bullet trains might be cancelled as the storm nears the city. However, regular trains may keep operating until the typhoon lands.
• In case of a signal orange, make sure that your shelter can withstand possible gale or typhoon force winds and is not in a flood prone place. Consider leaving the city or getting a higher room in a hotel. You'll have a little time to move to a safer location. Stock some water and food to last a day or two, and have a portable radio, flashlights, batteries, and candles ready.
• If a typhoon hits the area, then stay away from windows. If you are on a bottom floor of a hotel or other building near sea level, try to move up to a higher floor to avoid any flooding. In case of a category 5 typhoon, the storm surge can rise more than 30 feet or three stories high, so try to get higher than this. Listen to public flood warnings.

Popular China Tours in Typhoon Areas

Pack your bag and come with us to explore the beauty of China's coasts. Below are popular tours for your inspiration that you can modify.

• Our most-recommended, first-time-to-China Shanghai tour: 14-Day Hong Kong, Guilin, Yangtze, Shanghai, and Beijing Tour
• Shanghai and Hangzhou Tour, 5-Day Tour of Shanghai, Hangzhou and Wenzhou. All our tours are modifiable and can be individualized.
• More China Tours: See our first-timer tours.

If typhoons are forecast to affect your trip, your China Highlights travel adviser can change your itinerary to make sure your tour won't be affected. If already in an affected area, our tour guides also have the flexibility to take you to visit places indoors instead. We suggest you don't go to isolated or remote places if a typhoon is forecast.