The Best Time of Year to Visit China游览中国最佳时节

卢屹

China is a huge country and the best time to go can depend on the region you’d like to visit and what kind of holiday you’re looking for. However， if you’re just beginning to plan your trip and don’t know where to start， here are our tips on figuring out when you should go to China.

High season （May–August）

In peak summer， temperatures can get unbearably hot in the southern part of the country and it’s also the wet season so downpours aren’t uncommon. Expect big crowds at traveler hotspots， especially in July and August when Chinese school children are on their summer break. Accommodation prices peak during the first week of May holiday period; this time is best avoided for travel.

Shoulder season （mid-February–April， September & October）

For many savvy travelers， this is the perfect time to go to China. Weather-wise， you have a more temperate climate. In the north in particular， this is the optimal season with fresh weather and clear skies. Accommodation prices can peak during the early-October holidays， another time you should try and avoid.

Low season （November–mid-February）

The winter weather is bitterly cold in the north and at altitude. If you’re looking for warmth， you’ll have to travel to the far south. Domestic tourism is at a low ebb， but things are busy and expensive for Chinese New Year.

January

North China is in a deep freeze but the south is less bitter; preparations for the Lunar New Year get underway well in advance of the festival， which arrives any time between late January and March. The Lunar New Year is family-focused， with dining on dumplings and gift-giving of hongbao （red envelopes stuffed with money）. Most families feast together on New Year’s Eve， then China goes on a big week-long holiday.

Key events： Spring Festival， Harbin Ice & Snow Festival

February

North China remains shockingly icy and dry， but things are slowly warming up in Hong Kong and Macao. The Lunar New Year could well be underway， but sort out any tickets well in advance.

Key events： Monlam Great Prayer Festival， Lantern Festival

March

China comes to life after a long winter， though it remains glacial at high altitudes. It’s still low season but if you delve into south Chinese countryside， prepare to be bowled over by a landscape saturated in bright-yellow rapeseed.

Key event： Beijing International Literary Festival

April

Most of China is warm and it’s a good time to be on the road. The Chinese take several days off for the Qingming festival， a traditional date for honoring their ancestors and now an official holiday.

Key events： Dai New Year， Luoyang Peony Festival， Third Moon Fair， Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix

May

Mountain regions， such as Sichuan’s Jiuzhaigou National Park， are in full bloom. For the first day of May， China is on holiday （Labour Day）. Buddha’s Birthday falls on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month， usually in May.

Key events： Buddha’s Birthday， Circling the Mountain Festival， Great Wall Marathon

June

Most of China is hot and getting hotter. Once-frozen areas， such as Jilin’s Heaven Lake， are accessible—and nature springs instantly to life. The great China peak tourist season is cranking up.

Key events： Festival of Aurora Bor-ealis， Dragon Boat Festival， Dhama Festival， Shangri-la Horse Racing Festival， Tagong Horse Festival

July

Typhoons can wreak havoc with travel itineraries down south， lashing the Guangdong and Fujian coastlines. Plenty of rain sweeps across China： the ‘plum rains’ give Shanghai a big soaking， and the grasslands of Inner Mongolia and Qinghai turn green.

Key events： Dali’s Torch Festival， Naadam， Dalian International Beer Festival

August

The temperature gauge of Yangzi’s ‘three ovens’—Chongqing， Wuhan and Nanjing—gets set to blow. Rainstorms hit Beijing， which is at peak heat， as is sweating Shanghai. So head uphill to Lushan， Moganshan， Huangshan or Guoliangcun.

Key events： Litang Horse Festival， Qingdao International Beer Festival

September

Come to Beijing and stay put—September is part of the fleetingly-lovely tiangao qishuang （‘the sky is high and the air is fresh’） autumnal season， which is an event in itself. It’s also a pleasant time to visit the rest of north China.

Key events： Tai Shan International Climbing Festival， Mid-Autumn Festival， Confucius’ Birthday

October

The first week of October can be hellish if you’re on the road： the National Day week-long holiday kicks off， so everywhere is swamped. Go mid-month instead， when everywhere is deserted.

Key events： Miao New Year， Kurban Bairam （Guerbang Jie）

November

Most of China is getting pretty cold as tourist numbers drop and holidaymakers begin to flock south for sun and the last pockets of warmth. The peak surfing season kicks off in Ri Yue Bay （Sun and Moon Bay） in Hainan.

中國幅员辽阔，旅游的最佳时间取决于你要去哪儿、想要怎样的假期。不过，要是你刚着手计划行程，还没有头绪的话，我们给你提供中国旅游时间指南。

旺季（5—8月）

盛夏时节，中国南方酷暑难耐，而且时值雨季，倾盆大雨也是常有的事。热门旅游景点人潮汹涌，特别是7、8月中国学生放暑假的时候。五一假期的住宿价格会达到峰值，最好避开这个时间旅游。

平季（2月中旬—4月，9—10月）

对许多精明的游客而言，这是去中国旅游的最佳时间。天气方面，气候比较适宜，特别是北方，正是天清气朗的时节。住宿价格在十一假期会达到顶峰，这也是应该尽量避开的时间段。

淡季（11月—2月中旬）

在中国的北方及高海拔地区，冬季极为寒冷。想要温暖的话，就要去最南边了。国内旅游进入低谷，但春节期间气氛热闹，花销大。

1月

中国北方天寒地冻，南方倒是不太冷。农历新年可能是1月下旬到3月之间的任何一天，节前准备早早就开始了。农历新年是阖家团圆的日子，要吃饺子、发红包。大部分家庭在除夕晚上吃团圆饭，全国开始长达一周的假期。

重要活动：春节、哈尔滨冰雪节

2月

中国北方还是冷得可怕、干得吓人，但香港、澳门慢慢暖和起来。农历新年也许已经到了，但无论什么票，都要提前订。

重要活动：毛兰姆法会、元宵节

3月

经过漫漫嚴冬，万物复苏，但高海拔地区依然严寒。此时仍是淡季，但你要是深入南方的郊野，就会被遍地金黄油菜花的风光所倾倒。

重要活动：北京国际文学节

4月

中国大部分地区都回暖了，是出行的好时机。中国人在清明节会休几天假，这是祭拜祖先的传统日子，现在也是法定假日。

重要活动：傣历新年、洛阳牡丹文化节、大理三月街、世界一级方程式锦标赛中国大奖赛

5月

四川九寨沟国家公园等山地景区鲜花盛开。五一劳动节全国放假。佛诞节是农历四月初八，通常在公历5月。

重要活动：佛诞节、转山节、长城马拉松

6月

中国大部分地区高温并且越来越热。吉林天池等曾经冰封的景点开放。大自然随即恢复生机。盛大的中国旅游旺季就此开启。

重要活动：北极光节、端午节、达玛节、香格里拉赛马节、塔公赛马节

7月

台风侵袭广东、福建沿海，可能给南下旅游计划造成困扰。各地频频降雨：“梅雨”让上海变得湿漉漉的，而内蒙古和青海的草原都变绿了。

重要活动：大理火把节、那达慕大会、大连国际啤酒节

8月

长江沿岸“三大火炉”重庆、武汉、南京气温爆表。暴雨频频侵袭酷热的北京，上海也让人热汗淋漓。那么请上山，去庐山、莫干山、黄山或者郭亮村避暑。

重要活动：理塘赛马节、青岛国际啤酒节

9月

来北京待一段时间。9月正是短暂而美好的天高气爽时节，本身就是一场盛典。这也是去北方其他地方旅游的大好时光。

重要活动：泰山国际登山节、中秋节、孔子诞辰日

10月

在10月第一周出行可能很恐怖：国庆7天长假开始，到处人山人海。改到月中去，届时到处人迹寥寥。

重要节日：苗历新年、古尔邦节

11月

中国大部分地区都变得很冷，游客人数下跌，度假游客纷纷开始奔赴南方，享受阳光和最后些许暖意。海南日月湾的冲浪旺季拉开帷幕。

（译者为“《英语世界》杯”翻译大赛获奖者）