China Weather in November and Places to Go

Usually it will get much colder in most parts of China in November, but it is still variable in different regions as it is all year round. The northern areas will begin to experience the winter climate since November. Some northeast cities like Harbin have seen their first snows, and high-altitude regions like Tibet even get cold temperatures below zero.

However, November is still a good time to discover the central, eastern and southern China. The weather is favorable with comfortable temperature ranging from 16°C to 24°C. The mild and moderate climate is quite suitable for outdoor sightseeing and exploration. In destinations around Three Gorges of Yangtze River and Yellow Mountain, you could still catch some stunning autumn colors.

North China: Beijing, Tianjin, Harbin, Inner Mongolia…
It turns really cold and dry in most northern cities in November, and there is a large chance for snow in some high-latitude areas like Harbin when temperature goes down below zero. The beginning of the month can still be warm enough for pleasant outdoor activities. In November, the average temperature in Beijing is 6°C, and Xian would be a little warmer, averaging 4–13°C (39–55°F). With little rainfall, you can expect pleasant and clear days most of the month.
Clothing Guide: sweater, thermal underwear, thick coat, wool overcoat, padded jacket, ankle boots, scarf…

Central China: Chengdu, Wuhan, Luoyang, Zhangjiajie, Yangtze River (Chongqing - Yichang)
All the central cities of China are blessed with the removal of humidity and the fall of the temperatures. The weather is mostly pleasant and mild, which is ideal for touring outdoor venues and admire some beautiful autumn scenery as late as November. The regions around the Yangtze River cools down, and the temperature is fairly comfortable by staying much above freezing. Chengdu and Zhangjiajie are also blessed with gentle temperature averaging 9–16°C (48–61°F).
Clothing Guide: sweater, woolen wears, thick jackets, padded coats, winter pants, short boots…

South China: Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin…
It's generally warm during daytime with an average temperature of 20°C (68°F), while it may become a bit chilly in the evening. The weather in south China is also very changeable as sometimes the temperature may drop a lot because of unexpected showers. With mean temperature of 24°C, Hong Kong benefits from warm and sunny weather for visitors who look for outdoor activities, sightseeing, and shopping in the street markets. Guilin would be also an excellent November destination for its favorable temperature of 11–19°C (52–66°F).
Clothing Guide: T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, thin coat, light jackets, hoodies, casual jeans and sneakers…

East China: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Yellow Mountain…
Broadly, cities of east China would experience warm days and cool nights in November, and the temperature seldom drops below freezing point. For example, tourists in Shanghai could enjoy nice and mild temperature ranging from 9°C–17°C (48–63°F), and have a tiny possibility to meet some autumn rains. The good weather conditions would give visitors more chances to embark on city walking tours in Shanghai and its neighbors like Hangzhou and Suzhou.
Clothing Guide: hoodies, long-sleeved shirts, jeans, trench coats, sweaters, light jacket, sneakers…

West China: Tibet, Yunnan, Qinghai, Silk Road Destinations…
November is already in winter course for west China. With temperatures varying between -3° C and 5° C, the weather is really cold and dry, and there will be frequent snowfalls in mountainous areas. Take Tibet as an example, the average temperature may drop down as low as -3–15°C (27–59°F). Yunnan has cold nights just above freezing point, while if you explore cities in Xinjiang, it would bitterly chilling with an average temperature of -8–0°C (18–32°F).
Clothing Guide: thermal layers, thick sweater, down jackets, padded coats, thick pants and snow boots, hat, scarf, gloves…

• Hangzhou: Hangzhou is endowed with favorable weather conditions to explore the city's best stunner, the enchanting West Lake with less crowds. Besides, you can delve into the Lingyin Temple to absorb its tranquility and autumn leaves. Or just sit down to a lite meal with the freshest lake crabs.
• Suzhou: Suzhou is on the list for its two undefeated charms, the classic gardens and dreamy water towns. Actually, there are a cluster of brilliant gardens for your choices, such as Master of the Nets Garden and Humble Administrator's Garden. Tongli Water Town is quite a delight, where you could immerse into the breathtaking setting of canals, bridges and folk houses.
• Guilin: Guilin is renowned for its picturesque Li River and peculiar karst peaks. In November, you shall never miss the oppotunity to take a cruise down to the river to soak up the essence of China's natural beauty. Venture into the lovely villages in Yangshuo to discover the autumn colors in the local farmers' fields. The dry and cool weather is an advantage for a hiking or biking experience, too.
• Yellow Mountain: Only lucky man could see the real face of Yellow Mountains, while November is one of the luckiest months to capture the iconic scenery of oddly twisted pines and grotesque granite peaks since there are more clear days. Photography-lovers have more chances to shoot the sunrise, sunset and sea of clouds as well as the red maple-leaves. Less rainfall creates a dryer condition for hiking travelers, and fewer crowds could keep you out of queuing in lines for cable car.
• Hong Kong: In November, the typhoon season ends, and the temperature cools down a bit. Most importantly, the humidity has finally been dialed back, which encourages visitors to explore more outdoor sites. No matter wandering along harbor promenade or lingering over the buzzing markets, or hiking up the Victoria Peak, November will surprise you with blue sky and warm sunshine. On Halloween, you could go to the Disneyland or Ocean Park for some fabulous theme shows and parades.
• Yunnan: When you travel to Yunnan in November during the period of autumn, the rainfall decreases considerably and the climate is drier with more sunshine. Apart from savoring the old towns and villages in Lijiang and Dali, you could definitely pick up one of China's best hiking routes, the Tiger Leaping Gorge in Shangri-La, where you would see the mighty origins of the Yangtze and walk on the spectacular trails between snow mountains. Besides, November is a wonderful period to see the palette-like Dongchuan Red Land in its best colors.
• Guizhou: November is an appropriate time to visit most places of Guizhou province with more sunny days and less rainfall. Both shutterbugs and hiking lovers would find great pleasure in the natural wonders in Guzhou, such as the Huangguoshu Waterfall and Malinghe Canyon. In the harvest season, it would be a big experience to walk into some minority villages of Miao and Dong, where exciting celebrations and festivities are ongoing.
• Shanghai: In November, you could seize the time to catch the autumn hues in Shanghai when the gingko trees on the streets are coated with their best golden suites. The comfortable temperature enables you to cover the Bund and Nanjing Road on foot at ease, while the clear days would promise you a wonderful city panorama from a high-rise.
• Xiamen: In November, Xiamen is still blessed with warm sunshine and clear sky, with a comfortable temperature of 17°C - 24°C. Travelers could revel in the picturesque beaches and islands in Xiamen for a laid-back vacation, or trek further to the rural areas to explore the uniquely-shaped earthen houses called Tulou, where generations of Hakka people have dwelled in with a big family clan.

1. November is a relatively quiet month across China, during which there are barely tourists crowds. It could be a lovely period to see the central, eastern and southern parts of China where you could anticipate more clear days and moderate temperature.
2. Visitors who wish to hike the Great Wall in Beijing should seize the early November when they could still see the colorful foliage and the wind is not that acuminate.
3. If your tour route widely traverses through China's territory including Guilin, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, you probably need to pack layers of layers to keep warm or cool.