May is one of the best months to visit China, with warm temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and mostly dry weather before the summer heat and rains arrive.
The weather in China differs between the north and the south:
In North China (like Beijing and Xi'an), May is the best time of spring. The scenery is lush and full of flowers, and the weather is pleasantly mild and dry.
Days are comfortable for outdoor activities, though nights can still be cool. The average temperature range is 14–26°C (57–79°F). There are only about 5 to 8 rainy days, so it stays mostly dry.
Clothing: Short sleeves and long pants are fine during the day, but it's a good idea to bring a jacket for cooler mornings and evenings.
In South China (like Guilin and Chengdu), summer starts in May with hot days and the early arrival of the monsoon.
Rain is more frequent in places like Guangzhou and Guilin, while cities farther north, such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou, tend to be drier.
Clothing: Wear T-shirts, shorts, and a light water-resistant jacket, and take an umbrella.
Is May a Good Time to Visit China
Yes, May is one of the best months to visit China.
Weather-wise, northern China, including cities like Beijing, Xi'an, Luoyang, Datong, and Qinghai, enjoys mild and comfortable conditions with little rain.
In the south, the hot and rainy season starts in May, but since it's still early, the heat and humidity are not too strong.
For southern destinations, early to mid-May (around May 1–20) is the most pleasant time to visit.
In terms of crowds and prices, May is generally quiet and affordable except for the Labor Day holiday (May 1–5). During that week, popular attractions are packed and hotel rates can double, so it's best to avoid traveling then.
If your schedule is flexible, plan your trip between May 6 and May 20. You'll enjoy the best balance of comfortable weather, fewer crowds, and reasonable prices.
May 1–5 Travel Tips
Make your reservations as early as possible (3 months or more in advance is best) for this holiday, as hotels, transport, and attractions can be sold out quickly.
Book with a travel agency for a smoother May Day trip. You'll skip long queues with VIP access, travel efficiently by private car, and explore hidden routes away from the crowds.
Crowds are expected, especially in popular tourist cities. But you could choose a less-traveled route, such as Western Sichuan, the Silk Road, Inner Mongolia, or a Yangtze River cruise.
Recommended China Tours
- Family Happiness — 11-Day Beijing – Xi'an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Shanghai Tour
- The Golden Triangle — 8-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai Highlights Tour
- Land of Pandas — 2-Week Beijing – Xi'an – Chengdu – Yangtze Cruise – Shanghai Tour
Top 5 Places to Visit in China in May
North Xinjiang
If you love nature, northern Xinjiang is amazing in May. It's all about canyons, grasslands, and lakes. The best time to go is from the middle to the end of May.
From my own trip, I found that this is when the scenery looks the best and there are not many people around.
By mid-May, the grasslands and forests turn green, but you can still see snow on the mountains. You could ride a horse across the grassland and see forests and snowy peaks all in one view.
Nalati GrasslandAt Sayram Lake, flowers start blooming along the shore, and the place feels peaceful and fresh. You could also walk around a local bazaar, try different Xinjiang snacks, and enjoy the slow pace.
Sayram LakeI visited from May 17 to 24 and went to Sayram Lake, Kalajun Grassland, Nalati Grassland, Tekes Bagua Town, and Liuxing Street. My favorite was Kalajun Grassland. It was quiet and beautiful.
The view had everything — wide meadows, dark green fir trees, white snow mountains, and bright sunshine. It was one of those moments you just don't want to leave. See our 8-Day Xinjiang Tour with Ili River Valley
Kalajun Grassland in late MayYunnan
Yunnan is very pleasant in May, with mild weather and little rain. If you want a southern destination with minimal rainfall for outdoor activities like cycling or hiking, Yunnan is the perfect choice.
Popular options include hiking the Tiger Leaping Gorge and cycling around Erhai Lake.
Tiger Leaping GorgeIf you want to escape the crowds during Labor Day, we recommend hiking in Baoshan Stone Village near Lijiang.
It is a great place to get close to nature and enjoy the vitality of spring. The houses in the village are all made of natural stone by the local Naxi people. May is the most beautiful time to visit.
Baoshan Stone VillageYunnan also has a seasonal highlight in May: the blue Jacaranda flowers in Kunming. In early May, if you visit the city, you can encounter a sea of blue-purple blossoms along Jiaochang Road.
You can even ride a double-decker bus through the flower-lined streets for a truly magical experience.
You could check out our 9-Day Yunnan Highlights with Spring Blossoms Tour
Jacaranda trees on Jiaochang Middle RoadChongqing & Yangtze River Cruise
If you are planning a trip during Labor Day and want a relatively crowd-free experience, consider taking a Yangtze River cruise. Cruises are relaxing, and the ship itself usually does not feel crowded, although some shore excursions may still be busy.
Yangtze RiverChongqing in May is also a comfortable time to visit. The weather is not too hot, much more pleasant than in June, July, or August.
Chongqing is a mountainous city, and many attractions require walking, such as Shancheng Alley and Longmenhao Old Street, so mild weather makes sightseeing much easier.
Get some ideas from our 10-Day Leisure River Cruise Getaway Tour
Shancheng AlleyTips for choosing your cruise:
Yangtze cruises can start from Chongqing to Yichang or Yichang to Chongqing. If you are traveling during Labor Day and plan to include Chongqing in your itinerary, we recommend starting from Yichang and ending in Chongqing.
This helps you avoid the heavy crowds in Chongqing during the holiday, as it is one of China's top 10 busiest tourist destinations at that time.
At other times of the year, both options are fine. The main difference is that traveling downstream or upstream affects the duration.
Cruises from Chongqing take four days and three nights, while cruises from Yichang take five days and four nights.
The Silk Road
May is a great time to explore the Silk Road because the weather is not too hot or too cold. Many attractions along the Silk Road, like deserts, Gobi landscapes, and large open-air sites, are much more enjoyable when the temperature is comfortable.
You can ride a camel at Mingsha Mountain, take beautiful photos of the red Danxia landforms in just the right sunlight, and explore the hanging Great Wall at Jiayuguan.
Mingsha MountainOne highlight you cannot miss is the Mogao Caves, where you can see some of China's best murals and learn about Buddhist stories and the hopes of ancient people.
The murals of the Mogao CavesIf you are interested in the Silk Road, see our 21-Day China Tour with Silk Road
Zhangjiajie
The mountainous scenery in Zhangjiajie is truly unique and stunning. It becomes even more magical in May, with mist and fog.
You could escape the crowds and enjoy the views on off-the-beaten-track routes. Bike around the beautiful, less touristy areas of Tianmen Mountain.
Try the via ferrata at Hongyanling, which lets you safely explore cliffs with cables. For thrill-seekers, there is also bungee jumping on the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge.
ZhangjiajieHowever, honestly, if you are traveling during Labor Day and cannot stand long queues, Zhangjiajie is not recommended at that time.
Outside of the holiday, May is a great month to visit — the weather is pleasant and the crowds are much smaller.
Check out our popular 14-Day China Natural Wonders Discovery.
Other Cities Worth Visiting
Besides the cities we mentioned earlier, there are many other great cities to explore, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Hangzhou, and Suzhou.
The weather in these cities is very pleasant in May. In fact, they are enjoyable to visit almost any time of the year, with no major seasonal restrictions.
If you are planning a trip in May, feel free to tell us which cities or experiences you are interested in, and we can help you create a customized itinerary.
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