Best Places to Visit in China in Summer

Be overwhelmed with many destinations to visit in summer in China? Read this article to plan the most interesting places and exhilarating activities for your China trip.

Summer in China is a peak domestic tourism season since it is the time for summer holiday in all schools and university. However, travelers can have a chance to appreciate vibrant and sparkling natural landscapes from beautiful beaches to imposing mountains.

Summer in China

May to the beginning of August is the time of summer in China with the average temperature of around 28 to 30 degrees Celsius. The weather is usually sultry, wet, and June and July are the two hottest months. The country also experiences heavy rains and typhoons in summer. The weather is extremely scorching in the famous ‘four furnaces’ of China: Wuhan, Tianjin, Chongqing, and Nanchang, so be careful when deciding destinations for your trip.

It is advisable to wear lightweight clothing which is made from breathable materials such as cotton and linen. Do not forget to bring umbrellas and raincoats.

Events and Festivals during Summer in China

Guanshanglan (May)

Guanshanglan is a carnival for Bai people who inhabited in some cities such as Dali, Lijiang, and Kunming of Yunnan Province. Guanshanglan means ‘Worship Gathering’ in the local language, and it is held in Three Temples including the Chongsheng Temple, the Shengyuan Temple, and the Jinkui Temple. The festival takes place from the 23^rd to 25^th in the fourth month of lunar calendar. On this occasion, local people show their respect to God and pray for bumper crops.

Saga Dawa Festival (May or June)

Saga refers to ‘the fourth’ and Dawa means ‘month’ in Tibetan language. This festival takes place in the fourth month of Tibetan calendar. The Saga Dawa Festival celebrates the birth and enlightenment of Buddha. According to the legend, before the Buddha passed away, he instructed his followers not to honor him merely with incense, flowers, and offerings, but by striving to spread his teachings about being compassionate and kind. It is a must-attend Buddhist event for those who love to discover religion in Tibet. During this festival, praying, alms giving, and doing acts of benevolence are the main activities.

Summer Solstice (June 21st or 22nd)

Summer Solstice, or midsummer, is an important day in Chinese solar term. This is the longest day of the year in the entire northern hemisphere when daytime is much longer than nighttime. The Summer Solstice was already celebrated as early as in the Han Dynasty (260BC-220) since the Mid-autumn Festival and the Double Ninth Festival were not as significant as they are today. On this occasion, Chinese people perform Earth worshipping rituals and eat noodles as wheat becomes ripen.

Naadam Grassland Festival (July or August)

The Naadam Grassland Festival, which takes place in the Inner Mongolia region, is a showcase of skills and masculinity of Mongol males. This festival can be dated back to the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) when Genghis Khan, the founder of Mongol Empire, made wrestling a national sport. Naadam Grassland Festival is a combination of Eriyn Gurvan Naadam (‘Three Manly Games’), including wrestling, horse racing, and archery, and other cultural exhibits.

Recommended Places to Visit during Summer in China

Summer in China is a peak tourism season and your trip may be interrupted by heavy rains. We recommend that you research the weather conditions before planning a trip to any place to make sure that everything goes smoothly.

Shanghai

You cannot miss the glorious Shanghai on your China trip! Shanghai, or Hu for short, is renowned as a dazzling metropolis, a major cargo, and a center of Chinese economy, culture, politics, and transportation. Shanghai attracts tourists for its appealing historical sites, modern contemporary architectures, exciting shopping centers and delicious traditional dishes. Anyone who visits Shanghai can easily notice its fusion of Oriental and Western cultures in the city’s architecture.

The Bund is considered as the symbol of Shanghai for more than a hundred year. Stretching along Huang River, it is the waterfront and used to be the trading port during the colonial era. Yu Garden, which was built during Ming dynasty more than 450 years ago, is also a main attraction of the city.

The Yangtze River

Yangtze River is the third largest river of the world after Nile and Amazon. As the largest river of the country, this river plays an important role in Chinese history, culture, transportation, and economy. Yangtze River has many tributaries, including Min River, Han River, Jialing River, Gan River, and Huangpu River. It is said that Yangtze River divides China into two parts: the north and the south.

Cruising the Yangtze River and immersing in idyllic landscapes are probably an unforgettable experience in your tour to China. The most popular cruise route is the middle reach between Chongqing and Yichang thanks to the Three Gorges. Once considered the dangerous stretch of the river, these three mind-blowing gorges namely Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge now become accessible to every tourist.

Huangshan

Located in the east of China and close to Shanghai, Huangshan is famous for its picturesque Yellow Mountain. Its mist-shrouded peaks, sea of clouds, and unique pines make Huangshan a perfect place to escape from summer heat. Tourists will have a chance to admire grotesque rocks and imposing mountains, which usually appear in Chinese traditional painting and calligraphy.

Not only is the natural landscape main attraction in Huangshan, but the town is also a place for culture lovers. As a cradle of Hui culture and a hometown of Huizhou merchants who controlled Chinese commerce for over 300 years, Huangshan is where you can see dazzling Huizhou style villages. Some of them can be named are Hongcun Ancient Village, Tunxi Ancient Village, and Xidi Ancient Village.

Lijiang

Belonging to Yunan Province, Lijiang is a famous tourist destination that contains everything you need for a trip to China: rustic old towns, snow-capped mountain ranges, romantic lakes and colorful ethnic culture. Lijiang is the home to the Naxi people who have been preserving their culture from generation to generation.

Lijiang Old Town is the main attraction of this rustic city. Lijiang Old Town is located at the elevation of 2400 meters above the sea level. It was first built during Song Dynasty (960 – 1279) and became the ancient trading center between Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet. It was also the economic, culture and communication exchange route between Naxi, Tibetan, Bai and Han ethnic groups.

Guiyang

Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, is a popular resort town in China. The weather here is mild and pleasant all year-round, so you can visit Guiyang whenever you want. This city is where travelers can discover the unique karst scenery as well as diverse ethnic culture and traditions. There are more than 30 ethnic minorities in Guiyang, including Miao, Buyi, Dong and Hui.

You will definitely visit Jiaxiu Tower, the landmark of Guiyang, when coming to this town. 30 kilometers south of Guiyang, Qingyan Ancient Town is considered one of the most rustic ancient villages of Guizhou Province. Originally established in 1378, this town attracts tourists for its unique architecture which was completely built of stone.

Xiamen

Xiamen is a coastal city in Fujian Province. As one of the major seaports in China, Xiamen boasts blue sea, pleasant climate, and scenic natural landscapes. Though Xiamen is not as touristic as Hong Kong or Shanghai, tourists can enjoy a peaceful ambiance in this city. This city features various tourist resources of intriguing scenery, historical relics and unique architectures, among which the most well-known one is South Putuo Temple.

Gulangyu Island is a must-see place when coming to Xiamen. Since motorbikes and cars are banned on the island and you can only find electric-powered vehicles here, Gulangyu Island is free from noise and air pollution. Not only the beaches are the highlight, but you can also visit the Sunlight Rock, which is claimed to be Xiamen’s highest point and Shuzhuang Garden.

Sanya

Located in Hainan Province, Sanya attracts a lot of travelers in summers thanks to its beautiful beaches. In this place, tourists can enjoy a unique tropical oceanic landscape that is totally different from the iconic scenery of mountains, rivers, and ancient villages that you can find in other provinces of China. You can also taste the best seafood and fruits in all corners around Sanya.

Sanya Bay, Dadonghai, and Yalong Bay are the three best places with turquoise beaches, white sand, and clear blue sky. You can leisurely sunbath, listen to the sound of the waves, enjoy exciting beach sports, and admire amazing sunrise and sunset. For those who love to experience ethnic customs and traditions, Binglanggu Li & Miao Cultural Heritage Park and Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone are full of interesting activities for you.