China Weather in August and Places to Go

August is the last month of the hot summer and it is basically hot throughout most parts of the country. There could be downpours in many areas in August as well. Yet North and West China as well as the highlands in southwest part are still very comfortable to travel to.

North China: Beijing, Xi'an, Inner Mongolia, Pingyao, Luoyang
The northern part of China like Inner Mongolia is very cool with an average temperature 14℃ (57.2℉) to 27℃ (80.6℉) while Beijing and Xi'an see an average temperature of 25℃ (77℉) to 35℃ (95℉). Sometimes, the highest temperature could go up to 40℃ (104℉), only a few days though. Keep an eye on the weather forecast to adjust your itinerary and visit indoor places like museums to avoid the extremely hot days and stay away from the heat.
Clothing guide: shorts, light clothing, short sleeves T-shirts, rain gear, long sleeves T-shirts and pants for Northern China.

Central China: Chengdu, Chongqing, Yangtze River Region, Zhangjiajie
Central part of China is experiencing the wettest time of the year with an average rainfall of 180 mm (7.4 in). Though it is warm and wet, it boasts beautiful scenery in the mountains and the three gorges along Yangtze River.
Clothing guide: rain gear, shorts, T-shirts, light clothing.

South China: Guilin, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xiamen
Southern part of China is hot and wet, too, with sometimes thunderstorms. The average temperature is between 27℃ (80.6℉) to 33℃ (91.4℉). The rich natural resources like Wuyi Mountain.
Clothing guide: short sleeves T-shirts, shorts, rain gear, light clothing.

East China: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing
China's east coastal cities are warm with a lot of rains. Shanghai, for example, has rainy days for almost half a month. Yet it is still very nice to travel to the mountains, water towns and gardens nearby when everything is in fresh and lush green.
Clothing guide: shorts, light summer clothing, T-shirts and rain gear.

West China: Tibet, Qinghai, Dunhuang, Zhangye, Yunnan, Guizhou
When most parts of the country are hot, West China remains pleasant and comfortable without intense heat. It is also rainy season for the west. But interestingly, the rains and storms fall at nights more often which makes day time cooler and dry. Its temperature varies based on altitudes but generally stays between 15 ℃ (59℉) to 28℃ (82.4℉). So nights could be a bit chilly.
Clothing guide: light jacket, long pants, shorts, T-shirts, rain gear.

• Chengdu: August provides a good chance to see the newborn baby pandas as it is the breeding season of adorable mammals. Mt. Qingcheng and Emei both embrace travelers with their magnificent views.
• Zhangjiajie: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain are both lush green in August. Hiking along Golden Whip Stream is refreshing with captivating sceneries all along the way.
• Guizhou: Guizhou is a mountainous province, thus August is comfortable to travel. Hiking through the minority villages in the pleasant breezes is enjoyable and leaves the hustle and bustle behind.

• Yunnan: Located in southwest high lands, Yunnan is cool in August with cozy weather and enchanting scenery. Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangrila are all worth going at this time of the year.
• Tibet: Nature and culture both finds August a great time to be shown to travelers. The holy lakes, snow mountains, murmuring streams are awaiting your discovery. More importantly, August is when the famous Shoton Festival opened during which you will see Tibetan Opera, Horse Race, Trekking and many traditional folk celebrations.

• Guilin: Besides the beautiful karst pinnacles and peaceful Li River, the Longsheng Terraced Fields is another highlight in August to see the splendid green waves of the paddy fields.
• Qinghai: The first half of August still has beautiful rape flowers around Qinghai Lake. Plus the vast Qinghai Lake and Salt Lake that is regarded China's Uyuni Salt Flat, Qinghai is a very popular summer escape destination.

• Yellow Mountain: The beautiful Yellow Mountain is a cool and popular escape in hot weather. Staying on top of the mountains allows travelers the chance to see the wonderful sunrise and sunset views.
• Silk Road Route: If you are not good with humidity, Silk Road Route is a good choice for your summer vacation as the region is very dry with cool mornings and nights, not to mention the yummy fruits ripen in August, e.g. grapes, cantaloupe. And the desert area with a camel ride, the Flaming Mountain in Turpan both present travelers a wonderful exploration.

1. As most parts of the country are warm and humid with more rains, rain gear is strongly recommended for traveling in August.
2. Sunblock and sun glasses should be packed.
3. Insect repellents will be found useful while hiking in the mountains or in rural villages.

1. The famous and important Chinese Valentine's Day (July 7th in lunar calendar) usually falls in August. You will see businesses promoting heavily using the festival and locals, especially the younger generations, celebrating the festival.
2. As mentioned above, the important Shoton Festival in Tibet falls in August and Tibetans celebrate the traditional festival in their old and special ways.