Best time of year to visit China

Late September through early November is the safest all-round window — mild temperatures across most of the country and clear skies for Great Wall and karst-mountain photography. Spring, from April to early June, runs a close second, with fewer crowds than autumn’s peak.

If your route leans southwest toward Yunnan or the tropics, winter is workable too. Avoid the Golden Week holiday in early October and Chinese New Year if you can — domestic travel volumes spike and prices follow.