Best Time to Visit Beijing in May
Weather, crowds, costs, and events for visiting Beijing in May
Best Time to Visit Beijing in May
The best times to visit Beijing are April to October for peak tourist season, and January to November for the cheapest flights and hotels of the year. Both combine favourable conditions with better value than peak alone, and Beijing at its most rewarding.
AT A GLANCE
June to July
Warm: Peak tourist season. Crowds run High — book 3–4 months ahead.
April to October
Peak tourist season. Crowd level is High; peak pricing.
January to November
Cheapest flights and hotels of the year. Crowd level is Low; book 2–4 weeks ahead.
Which season is best for Beijing?
May falls in spring — here's what to expect.
Spring
Spring — Garden Walks
March · April · May
Spring season
Spring is when travellers book Beijing for garden walks. Garden Walks timing runs Beijing (early April); Shanghai (mid April); Guangzhou (late April). Expect 7–17°C averages with 8–10 rain days/month and high crowds — but hotel rates hit $130–$180/night and high crowds fill the main sights Mid-season sits near 12°C with 9 rain days in April.
Early Blooms [Mar], Spring window [Apr], Clear Trails [May]
Mar 7°C, Apr 12°C, May 17°C — mixed skies (8–10 rain days)
First-timers, photographers, couples, soft hikers
April pushes rates to $130–$180/night with high crowds at headline sights. May brings 10 rain days — outdoor days get cut short without a flexible plan.
Travelling to Beijing in Spring?
Book Beijing's garden walks for April at least 2–3 months out, then spend 2 nights in Shanghai in March where mid rates and medium crowds trade a short hop for calmer spring days.
Summer
Summer — Warm Evenings
June · July · August
Warm season
Summer is when travellers book Beijing for warm evenings. Warm Evenings timing runs Beijing (early June); Shanghai (mid June); Guangzhou (late June). Expect 22–26°C averages with 9–11 rain days/month and high crowds — but hotel rates hit $180–$250/night and high crowds fill the main sights Mid-season sits near 22°C with 11 rain days in June.
Warm Evenings [Jun], Warm Evenings [Jul], Long Evenings [Aug]
Jun 22°C, Jul 26°C, Aug 25°C — mixed skies (9–11 rain days)
Festival-goers, families, beach seekers, nightlife fans
June pushes rates to $180–$250/night with high crowds at headline sights. June brings 11 rain days — outdoor days get cut short without a flexible plan.
Travelling to Beijing in Summer?
Book Beijing's warm evenings for June at least 3–4 months out, then spend 2 nights in Shanghai in June where peak rates and high crowds trade a short hop for calmer summer days.
Autumn
Autumn — Crisp Hiking
September · October · November
Mild season
Autumn is when travellers book Beijing for crisp hiking. Crisp Hiking timing runs Beijing (early September); Shanghai (mid September); Guangzhou (late September). Expect 8–20°C averages with 7–8 rain days/month and medium crowds — and yet shoulder gaps still leave medium footfall on peak weekends Mid-season sits near 20°C with 8 rain days in September.
Mild Walks [Sep], Crisp window [Oct], Cool Wandering [Nov]
Sep 20°C, Oct 14°C, Nov 8°C — mostly clearer skies (7–8 rain days)
Photographers, hikers, food travellers, couples
September pushes rates to $90–$130/night with medium crowds at headline sights. September brings 8 rain days — outdoor days get cut short without a flexible plan.
Travelling to Beijing in Autumn?
Book Beijing's crisp hiking for September at least 4–6 weeks out, then spend 2 nights in Shanghai in September where mid rates and medium crowds trade a short hop for calmer autumn days.
Winter
Winter — Holiday Lights
December · January · February
Festive season
Winter is when travellers book Beijing for holiday lights. Holiday Lights timing runs Beijing (early December); Shanghai (mid December); Guangzhou (late December). Expect 2–3°C averages with 7–8 rain days/month and medium crowds — and yet shoulder gaps still leave medium footfall on peak weekends Mid-season sits near 3°C with 8 rain days in December.
Festive window [Dec], Quiet Streets [Jan], Quiet Streets [Feb]
Dec 3°C, Jan 2°C, Feb 3°C — mixed skies (7–8 rain days)
Skiers, budget travellers, museum lovers, festive shoppers
December pushes rates to $90–$130/night with medium crowds at headline sights. December brings 8 rain days — outdoor days get cut short without a flexible plan.
Travelling to Beijing in Winter?
Book Beijing's holiday lights for December at least 4–6 weeks out, then spend 2 nights in Shanghai in December where mid rates and medium crowds trade a short hop for calmer winter days.
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Which month is best for Beijing?
| Month | Avg Temp | Rain Days | Crowds | Cost | Overall | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2°C | 8 | Low | $ Budget | ★ Avoid | Quiet winter days |
| February | 3°C | 7 | Low | $ Budget | ★★ Okay | Quiet budget travel |
| March | 7°C | 8 | Medium | $$ Mid | ★★ Okay | Early spring walks |
| April | 12°C | 9 | High | $$$ High | ★★★ Great | Spring city walking |
| May | 17°C | 10 | High | $$$ High | ★★★ Great | Comfortable sightseeing |
| June | 22°C | 11 | High | $$$$ Peak | ★★★ Great | Warm outdoor days |
| July | 26°C | 10 | Very High | $$$$ Peak | ★★ Okay | Warm outdoor days |
| August | 25°C | 9 | High | $$$ High | ★★ Okay | Warm evening outings |
| September | 20°C | 8 | Medium | $$ Mid | ★★★ Great | Mild city walking |
| October | 14°C | 7 | Medium | $$ Mid | ★★★ Great | Crisp outdoor walking |
| November | 8°C | 7 | Low | $ Budget | ★★ Okay | Cool quiet wandering |
| December | 3°C | 8 | Medium | $$ Mid | ★★ Okay | Festive city lights |
Temperatures shown as Beijing monthly averages.
When is Beijing Cheapest to Visit?
Timing your trip right can save 25 to 40 percent on flights and hotels. Green months are cheapest, red months are most expensive.
Cheapest window
January–November. Save about 25–40% versus $$$$ Peak June; hotels track the same flight discounts in this $ Budget window, so flight and stay costs move together.
Book early regardless
June and July sell out entirely when crowds hit High and pricing hits $$$$ Peak — book accommodation 3–4 months ahead regardless of budget, not only flights.
Best value sweet spot
September and October: great weather on this page (~20°C, 8 rain days) at $$ Mid pricing; Medium crowds still keep it from matching June’s sell-out rush.
Cheapest months to visit Beijing
January–November is the cheapest stretch to visit Beijing. $ Budget months on this page typically cut flights about 25–35% versus $$$$ Peak, with hotel rates moving in step rather than lagging. Averages sit near 2°C with roughly 8 rain days, so packing stays simple if you accept cooler or wetter days. The exception: festival or holiday spikes inside an otherwise cheap month can briefly push stays toward $$ Mid even when the band still reads $ Budget.
Most expensive months to visit Beijing
June and July are the most expensive months to visit Beijing. $$$$ Peak and $$$ High rows align with High or Very High crowds and the 3–4 months booking lead already shown for sell-outs. Expect the 25–40% saving story to reverse here — you pay the premium the chart paints in red. Weather can still look strong (22°C, 11 rain days in June), which is why demand sticks. The exception: a shoulder week just outside the core peak label sometimes dips to $$$ High instead of full $$$$ Peak if.
Best value months to visit Beijing
September and October offer the best value months to visit Beijing. Great-rated weather pairs with $$ Mid instead of $$$$ Peak, so you keep comfort without the full 25–40% penalty of peak pricing. September averages about 20°C with 8 rain days and Medium crowds — busy enough for open attractions, not yet June-style sell-outs. The exception: once a “value” month overlaps a major holiday cluster, lead times jump back toward 3–4 months even if the cost word has not flipped to $$$$ Peak.
Best Time to Visit Beijing For…
January–November. Flights are typically 25–35% cheaper than peak season — base in Beijing and keep trips flexible inside that budget window.
January–November. Crowd level stays Low with about 2°C averages — base in Beijing for quieter streets and easier bookings.
April and May and October. Expect around 12°C with a great rating — base in Beijing for the most comfortable sightseeing days.
April and May or October. April and May maximises iconic weather in Beijing but draws higher crowds and peak pricing; October trades that rush for calmer streets and still-strong ratings.
September and October. Base in Beijing for crisp Wall hikes once summer heat and peak crowds ease.
January and February. Base in Guangzhou or Shenzhen for mild winter city days when the north is freezing.
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Best Time to Visit Each City in China
Timing varies across China's main cities. Here is when each is at its best.
Beijing Travel Essentials
- Currency & cards
- Chinese yuan (CNY / RMB). Mobile pay dominates cities; international cards work unevenly — carry some cash as backup.
- Connectivity
- Local SIM or eSIM helps with maps and payments. Plan for app access; hotel Wi‑Fi is common in major cities.
- Domestic transport
- Metros cover big cities; high-speed rail links hubs. Use official ticketing apps or station counters for intercity trains.
- Etiquette & logistics
- Keep passport details handy for hotels and long-distance tickets. Queue patiently at security and station gates.
- Visa / entry
- Confirm entry rules on China’s official visa service site for your nationality before you travel. Official source
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Beijing Travel Timing — FAQ
Everything you need to know about timing your Beijing trip
Most travellers cover Beijing's core highlights in a short city break, then add nights only if you want day trips beyond the centre. Anchor those days in the April–October window shown here so weather and pacing stay aligned.
Everything You Need to Plan Your China Trip
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How we work this out
Temperature and rainfall figures are 30-year meteorological averages. Crowd levels come from national tourism arrival data. Price bands reflect mid-range accommodation and economy flights from major long-haul cities, sampled quarterly.
Last updated 18 July 2026 · Written by the Holicay travel team