In April, spring is in the air in most of China. The weather is cool to warm and agreeable for traveling across most of the country.
April is the best time to appreciate beautiful and refreshing floral scenery. It's also a good time to do outdoor activities.
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China Weather in April: Overview
- Average daily temperature range: 9–20°C (48–68°F)
- Average rainfall: 70 mm (3 in)
- Average rainy days: 5
- Average sunny days: 25
![China in April](https://data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
Weather in North China (Beijing, Xi'an...)
In North China, the weather is warm during the day but chilly at night. There is not much rainfall in April so it's a great time for hiking and other outdoor activities.
In Beijing, the average temperature range is 8–20°C (46–68°F) and there are typically 4 days of rain amounting to a semi-arid 22 mm (1 in) in April. Xi'an has similar weather to Beijing.
As the weather warms up the natural scenery turns green. It's a good time to visit the Great Wall around Beijing.
Clothing: Wear light trousers, T-shirts, light sweaters, and a jacket, with a warmer coat for the evenings.
Weather in East China (Shanghai, Hangzhou...)
The weather is changeable in East China. It can be cool and damp, but it can be warm and sunny too.
Take Shanghai as an example — the average temperature range is 11–19 °C (52 –66°F) and there are typically 15 days of rain totaling a moderate 97 mm (4 in) in April. It can reach up to 30°C (86°F) in late April.
Clothing: Wear T-shirts, light trousers, and a sweater in the daytime. Wear layers and waterproofs for mountainous areas and in the evenings.
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Relaxing tour around Shanghai
![]() Our guide Mulan was excellent. The view at the Shanghai Tower was breathtaking. The walk at the former French Concession Precinct was also a pleasant stroll where our guide and us drank coffee, saw books and discussed culture and world affairs. Mulan also brought us for a wonderful lunch at Ya Long building. She also accompanied us on a subway ride to experience Shanghainese daily commute! Our only full day in Shanghai was very well spent! more
May 2024, TravRach
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Wonderful time in Shanghai with Martin.
![]() To see Shanghai was my dream. Our tur guide Martin show us all of the city attractions perfect. He is very professional and well organized. China Highlights reserved great hotel for us. Everything was on time with high level service. Transportation service also high class. Thanks again for China Highlights and specially to Martin. more
May 2024, Andrew L
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China Highlights really delivered in our stay in Shanghai!
![]() China Highlights (CH, for short) helped us create an amazing multi-city tour of China and we were very pleased with how it turned out. CH took care of the train tickets, the plane tickets, making sure the practical aspects of our itinerary made sense (what time to leave one place to make sure we made it to the right train, etc.). CH booked great hotels that were very well located, arranged local transportation for us in each of the cities we visited in comfortable cars that accommodated all of us... in sum, made sure we did not have to think about the logistics and could enjoy our trip. In Shanghai Martin took care of us. We didn’t have a lot of time in this sprawling marvel of a city where two very different worlds meet, and he made sure we saw the most important places and kept our itinerary dynamic and agile but also flexible enough that we could enjoy some of the best things this city offers. Shanghai is the last stop in our trip and we could not be happier with how it all turned out. Martin suggested that for our last night we attend the ERA acrobatics show, which was an amazing end to our China adventure. We’re very thankful to China Highlights and Martin for a great experience in Shanghai. more
May 2024, didacvs
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Weather in South China (Guilin, Hong Kong...)
South China is already quite warm in April, making it a good time for spring travel. It can be quite hot in late April, so take light clothes.
Guilin can still be quite cool following the frequent rainfall in April. The average temperature range is 17–24°C (63–75°F) and there are, on average, 22 days of rain with a high total of 248 mm (10 in).
The Pearl River Delta (Hong Kong, Foshan, Chaozhou, Shantou, etc.) will be much warmer.
South China areas will have frequent showers/drizzle. On the plus side, the rain brings fresh air and magical misty scenery.
Clothing: Wear shorts, T-shirts, light sweaters, and trousers in the evenings, and take some light rain gear.
Weather in West China (Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan...)
In April, West China experiences a transition from the coolness of spring to the warmth of early summer. However, occasional spring showers may occur, accompanied by gusty winds.
Tibet and Yunnan are usually sunny in April, apart from in the mountains. There will be rainfall in the afternoons, but not in a large quantity. The temperatures drop on rainy days.
The average temperature in Chengdu is 13–22°C (55–72°F) and there are typically 20 days of rain, bringing a low rainfall of 47 mm (2 in) in April.
Top 5 Places to Visit in China in April
April is a pleasant time for traveling to outdoorsy destinations, appreciating flowers, and hiking.
1. Guilin
Traveling to Guilin in April, you would see the poetic imagery of the Li River, where misty rain hangs over the landscape, creating a tranquil and ethereal ambiance.
Nearby Yangshuo County is best for various outdoor activities, such as rock climbing and ATV driving. You could also watch spring plowing.
April is also a good time to experience the Zhuang Minority Folk Song Festival. Men and women divide into gender teams and they sing alternately in an antiphonal style.
All of our itineraries can be personalized for you and your family's travel goals, available travel days and dates, and other requirements. Just contact us.
2. The Yellow Mountains
In April, the Yellow Mountains come alive with vibrant blossoms, cherry and peach trees in full bloom, and lush greenery. The cool weather is also good for hiking.
Immerse yourself in the surreal experience of witnessing the sunrise or sunset from the mountain peaks, as the sea of clouds gently rolls beneath you.
The villages of the mountains are beautiful, with canola flowers blooming in April. There, you could get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Take a stroll through the flower fields, feel the freshness of the air mixed with floral scents, and try some traditional crafts, such as learning to make a fish-shaped lantern with an experienced local craftsman.
3. Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie is cool and beautiful for traveling around in April. Spring brings vibrant colors and refreshing greenery to the awe-inspiring towering sandstone pillars, lush forests, and serene valleys.
There will be misty and foggy scenery to enjoy at the pillars and peaks, especially on rainy days. The mountain mist adds a unique charm to the scenery.
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Zhangjiajie will leave a special place in your heart
![]() Simply breathtaking! We spent 4 days exploring this incredible part of China with our amazing guide, Linda and we are still thinking about it! The views are not to be missed, the pictures just don't compare! Linda was great at accommodating our wishes and we had some great hikes with her! She was also incredibly helpful and helped us from the minute we landed until we sadly had to depart. Do not leave this place off your plans, Zhangjiajie is a must visit place! more
May 2024, Lauren B
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A natural wonder
![]() We had an amazing trip in zangjaijie. The mountains are out of this world, the glass bridge ad well. It"s a must. Our guide Eileen has made it even better. She is proffessional end very educated,answered all our question,took us to awesome places end restaurants. She is easy going and flexible. Fullfiled all our wishess with no efort. A petfect guide. more
May 2024, goranisce
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China Highlights Tour in ZhangJiaJie, Furong, and Fenghuang.
![]() Booked a trip with China Highlights and was matched with Anna as our tour guide. Although the weather did not cooperate, our Anna was extremely flexible and knowledgale that made the trip still very well worth the while! Would definitely recommend both China Highlights and our tour guide Anna to any one who wants to visit China, and specifically ZhangJiaJie, Furong, and Fenghuang. Only thing I would change about our itinerary is to make sure to stay the night in Furong as we missed the night view of the amazing city. more
May 2024, melanie k
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4. Tibet
Tibet is quiet and beautiful in April. You would see a beautiful scene of peach blossoms and snowcapped mountains meeting in Nyingchi in April.
Tibet in April not only offers stunning scenery but also provides a quiet environment when tourists have not yet flooded in.
Visit the Potala Palace, experience the lifestyle and the spiritual world of local Tibetans with a walk along Barkhor Street, and visit a local family to experience their lifestyle on a plateau pasture.
5. Yunnan
The sunny weather in Yunnan in April makes it an opportune time to do outdoor activities, such as biking and hiking, as spring arrives just before the rainy season.
The rape flowers in bloom in Luoping also make it the best time to appreciate the hills, terraces, and fields.
Slow down your pace to take a stroll in the ancient town, ride alongside Erhai Lake to feel the breeze, and explore a minority village to learn about the only living (still in use) hieroglyphics in the world — the Dongba symbols.
Crowds and Costs in April
April could be a good time for travel if you are looking for a less-crowded environment and reasonable tourism expenses.
While it marks the beginning of the peak season, April still sees fewer tourists compared to May and the upcoming summer vacation period.
As May approaches, airfares and hotel prices tend to rise significantly due to the Golden Week (Labor Day) holiday in the first week of May, prompting many travelers to begin their journeys at the end of April.
To avoid excessive price surges, it is advisable to plan your trip for early or mid-April. By doing so, you could enjoy a more relaxed experience and potentially save on travel expenses.
If you want to arrange a private tour, simply contact us. You'll receive a 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights if you cancel up to 3 weeks before departure. (See more details.)
Tour China with Us
All of our itineraries can be personalized for you and your family's travel goals, available travel days and dates, and other requirements. Just contact us.
- Land of Pandas — 2-Week Beijing – Xi'an – Chengdu – Yangtze Cruise – Shanghai Tour
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- China's Golden Triangle — 8-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai Tour