How is Guangzhou in summer

China / Guangzhou

Climate in China

The climate in China is very diverse and ranges in all sorts of shades from bitterly cold to unbearably hot. With the exception of the coastal regions, it is strongly continental (cold winters and hot summers) everywhere. Another common factor is the summer, rain-bringing monsoons, which affect the regions to different degrees.

Temperatures: The average winter day in the north reaches maximum values ​​of -8 ° C, July temperatures can be over 30 ° C. There are also large seasonal temperature differences in the Yangtze Valley. In the far south, the hot and humid summer lasts from April to September. In the north-west there are dry, hot summers, here is also China's hottest place (Turpan) with a maximum value of around 47 ° C. The winters here, as in all of northern China, are very cold.

Annual rainfall increases from west to east and north to south. With barely 100 mm of precipitation, Tibet and the central Chinese deserts are the driest regions in the country. Agriculture is only possible here in oases. Most of the precipitation (up to 3,000 mm) falls in southeast China and on Formosa. Across the country, up to 90% of the annual rain falls in summer. Agriculture is essentially only practicable in the south-east half of China due to the lack of rainfall in the west and north.

Typhoons are tropical cyclones with enormous devastating power. The south and south-east coast of China is hit by typhoons every year, which often cause great damage and also claim human lives. Typically, the typhoons pass Hong Kong and Taiwan and reach Japan, but the coast in the Shanghai region is also at risk. The main typhoon season in the south of China is between mid-May and October / November, in the north it does not begin until June / July. During this time, sufficient water temperatures (25 ° C) are reached for the formation of tropical cyclones.

Best travel time: Spring (March-April) and autumn (September-October) are the best times to visit China, and the high altitude areas of Tibet, Qinghai and Sichuan are best visited in midsummer (June-September). During these times of the year, temperatures reach 20 ° C to 30 ° C during the day, but bear in mind that the nights can still be bitterly cold and the weather conditions can be very humid. Major holidays, especially the Chinese New Year, are best avoided as it is difficult to find accommodation during these times.

This brief climate information comes from Transasia - Country Information China.

You can also find more information about traveling in Asia on Transasia.