China Weather in July and Places to Go

July is one of the two hot months in China and most places in China are experiencing a hot and damp summer time. Still, weather in this large country varies in different parts. So there are many cool and beautiful places for a summer escape. July is also the start of summer holidays for students so it gets busier with students groups in many places. Thus July offers a good chance to interact with local Chinese students who are always friendly and willing to start a talk. And in China, the indoors are all equipped with excellent air-conditioners which guarantees a comfortable stay after a whole day's outing.

North China: Beijing, Xi'an, Inner Mongolia, Pingyao, Luoyang
July in North China is mostly comfortable and the extremely hot weather has not kicked in yet. The temperature sometimes goes up to 30℃ (86℉) while nights are cooler with the temperature around 23℃ (73.4℉).
Clothing guide: T-shirts, shorts and light clothing.

Central China: Chengdu, Chongqing, Yangtze River Region, Zhangjiajie
A bit further down south, central part of China is hot in July. With more rains, the sceneries are magnificent with much greenery and flowers. The Yangtze River sees abundant water with amazing views along its three gorges. The average temperature is around 26℃ (78.8℉) to 32℃ (89.6℉).
Clothing guide: Shorts, rain gear and light summer clothing.

South China: Guilin, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xiamen
South China is warm and damp, and sees more rain in July than the rest of the year. Sometimes in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, there could be downpours or storms. But the overall scenery is beautiful with the warmth and humidity. The temperature is around 27℃ (80.6℉) to 33℃ (91.4℉).
Clothing guide: shorts, rain gear, short sleeves T-shirts.

East China: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing
July in east China is very warm. Yet close to China's coastal lines, the weather in the east is not too hot. The average temperature is around 26℃ (78.8℉) to 33℃ (91.4℉).
Clothing guide: rain gear, T-shirts, shorts and light clothing.

West China: Tibet, Qinghai, Dunhuang, Zhangye, Yunnan, Guizhou
July is the peak season to travel to West China as it is a wonderful choice to escape summer heat and immerse in the mystic culture and stunning landscapes. The average temperature stays around 18℃ (64.4℉) to 28℃ (82.4℉).
Clothing guide: Long sleeves shirts, long pants, shorts, rain gear.

• Hangzhou: Hangzhou is awaiting you with its full blossom lotus flower in the peaceful West Lake. A visit to the Meijiawu Tea Plantation at the city outskirt is worth your time as well.
• Suzhou: China gardens look beautiful both in the summer sunshine and after the rain. Shutter bugs will get the chance to shoot some wonderful pictures of the elegantly designed landscapes.
• Guilin: Li River sees abundant water and the karst pinnacles are lush green. After the rain, everything is covered in the rain mist, forming a magnificent scene. Plus the Longsheng Terraced Fields will amaze you with its green waves.

• Yellow Mountain: Mountains is always lovely for a summer escape. Staying on the mountain top will cool you down. Plus the beautiful views of sea clouds, unique pines and weirdly shaped rocks, Yellow Mountain should be on your bucket list for your summer vacation to China.
• Inner Mongolia: Inner Mongolia embraces you with beautiful grassland and colorful Mongolian minority culture. A horse ride will leave all the hustle and bustle behind.

• Qinghai: A drive around Qinghai Lake will pass through vast rape flower fields. And July is the full blossom season for rape flowers, attracting photographers from all over the world to capture the magnificent scenes.
• Tibet: Tibet has very pleasant weather in July when the high land is becoming warmer but not hot. Its mornings and nights can be even chilly after the rain. The cozy weather offers quite a comfortable journey to visit the holy lakes and mountains.
• Yunnan: Yunnan in the high land of China has pleasant weather in July, neither too warm nor too humid. The sunshine is as strong as the rest time of the year though. The classic routes to Lijiang, Dali, Kunming and Shangrila is a good choice. Moreover, you could also consider to go to Yuanyang for its green waves in the paddy fields, Dongchuan for its unique red land scenery.

• Guizhou: The mountainous Guizhou sees cool weather and beautiful scenery in July. Trekking in the untouched minority villages, you will be stunned at the terraced paddy fields, unexpected minority celebrations and events. You will also see captivating waterfalls.

1. Rain gear is strongly recommended for travel in July.
2. Long sleeves shirts and long pants are needed to be packed for visits to mountainous areas.
3. Sunblock and sun glasses are a must.

July often sees the most important Torch Festivals for Yi Minority in Yunnan. A trip to Yunnan during this time will show you their celebration of this traditional festival. More and more Han people start to join the celebration as well. You are welcome to join the locals for the celebration.