China Weather in September and Places to Go

As the beginning of autumn, September is one of the best months for travelling China weather-wise. The temperature gradually becomes cool and comfortable, and air quality is at its best across much of the regions in the country. The heat and humidity are both at moderate levels, which are exactly suitable for outdoor sightseeing, even ideal for journeying along the Silk Route.

In September, plenty of natural stunners begin to wear their best seasonal looks like painting palettes with vibrant and rich colors. Besides, unlike the summer holiday peak season, September is a rather less crowded month that promises a better travel experience.

North China: Beijing, Tianjin, Harbin, Inner Mongolia…
In the beginning of September, though the temperature drops, you may still feel like experiencing the summer days since it would still be a bit hot. North China will get more mild and sunny days as well as clear sky that are perfect for mountaineering. The average temperature in Beijing and Xian may reach 16°C–26°C (61°F–79°F), while Inner Mongolia would become 5°C (9°F) colder if you travel further northward.
Clothing Guide: shorts, T-shirts, light pants, thin jackets or warm layers for cooler days and evenings.

Central China: Chengdu, Wuhan, Luoyang, Zhangjiajie, Yangtze River (Chongqing - Yichang)…
In most parts of Central China, it is still a bit hot in the day time, such as Chongqing, Chengdu, Luoyang, Zhangjiajie and Wuhan. The average temperature ranges from 19 to 25°C (66 - 77°F), while the mountainous regions might be cooler. Influenced by the seasonal typhoon, the central China still sees moderate rainfalls in the early September.
Clothing Guide: T-shirt, shorts, light trousers, dresses, light sweater and raincoat.

South China: Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin…
It cools down in much of the rest of China, while the temperature in South China like Guangzhou and Hong Kong sees a slight cooling trend but still much higher than north China. With an average temperature of 22–31°C (72–88°F), September is still in typhoon season. Thus it would be wet and warm most of the month in southern cities. If traveling during in Sep., you'll need to bring an umbrella and raincoats as almost half of the days of September experience some amount of rainfall.
Clothing Guide: T-shirt, shorts, dress, light coat and rain coat, sandals, sunglasses, and hat.

East China: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Yellow Mountain…
September is generally a favorable month in East China, but sometimes it might be hot around noon and cool at nights. Not as dry as in the north China, East China sees less rainfall than that in summer. For example, Shanghai gets an average temperature of 21–28°C (70–82°F), and the neighboring cities are blessed with quite similar weather. Thus, tourists are highly recommended to have extensional tours to nearby cities like Hangzhou, Suzhou and Yellow Mountain.
Clothing Guide: T-shirt, dress, sneakers, light pant, thin coat or thin jacket.

West China: Tibet, Yunnan, Qinghai, Silk Road Destinations…
West China is a vast region in China. With diverse landscapes, the weather conditions are complicated, too. It is generally much cooler and drier than other parts of China because of the high altitude. Like Lhasa in Tibet, the temperature is lower than cities further east, with an average temperature of 9–21°C (48–70°F), while Urumqi on the Silk Road would reach 12–24°C (54–75°F). Lijiang in Yunnan Province would be warm as 16–25°C (61–77°F), in its most pleasant period.
Clothing Guide: T-shirts, shirts, shorts, jeans, light coat or jacket, pants, sneakers, hat, sunglasses.

• Guilin: There is no better time than September to enjoy a Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, absorbing the spectacular karst peaks jutting up along the riverside, with soft autumn breeze brushing your cheeks. Pick one of the lovely hills and ascend the top to capture a stunning panorama of the bends of the river and the villages clinging to it. If travelling in late September, do plan an excursion to the Longji Rce Terrace to admire the golden sea of the crops padded in the fields.
• Chengdu: Luckily, August and September are rightly the time for giant pandas to give birth to cubs, so you could seize the life-time chance to see the pink new-born babies up close at Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center. The dry and comfortable weather is also suitable for a lovely hiking to the Mt. Qingcheng and Leshan Giant Buddha as well as the fairylike Jiuzhaigou.
• Zhangjiajie: Zhangjiajie is worth an adventure all year round, while September would give visitors better photography opportunities since there are more clear days with less mist. The fewer tourist crowds would also make your travel smoother by saving time on queuing.
• Guizhou: You cold venture into Guizhou in September to join the annual Huangguoshu Waterfall Festival, where you could both enjoy the magnificent waterfall and the folk performances of minorities of Miao, Dong and Buyi. Or plunge deep into the rural villages in Kaili and Anshun to discover more untouched tribal culture.
• Tibet: Viewed as the third pole of the globe, Tibet is one of the highest and coldest regions in the world. The best periods to visit Tibet are from late August to October when one will not suffer from bitterly freeze or sunburn. The tourist crowds are relatively less in September, thus you should seize the time to embark on a pilgrimage to the iconic Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Mount Everest as well as the holy lakes.
• Silk Road: September is an optimal month to have an adventure along the ancient Silk Road of China. You could take advantage of the favorable time to explore some outdoor spectacles, like the Zhangye Rainbow Mountain, Jiayuguan Great Wall or the breathtaking Kanas Lake. Moreover, September is also the fruit hunter’s time when various kinds of grapes of Turpan become ripe.
• Hangzhou: There is no better time than September for a culinary experience in Hangzhou as it is exactly the time to enjoy the plump seasonal lake crabs. Cool breeze and more sunny days would also give you superb opportunities to enjoy the stunning city oasis, West Lake, either by a leisurely wandering along the willow-shaded waterfront or by biking along the charming causeways.
• Suzhou: Just like it in spring, Suzhou is in a dreamy setting in autumn. Particularly, you could delve into the quiet traditional southern gardens without any hassle of crowds, and immerse into the bewildering peaceful lakes and quaint architectures. It is also an ideal time to walk into one or two water towns to soak up the time-polished canals, bridges and residential houses.

1. The Mid-Autumn Festival, one of four most significant traditional Chinese festivals, usually falls in September, bringing with it a rich folk customs atmosphere. If you happen to visit in China during the celebrations, you may probably have a chance to try Chinese moon cakes and crabs, and indulge in some cultural traditions like hiking to the mountain top or gazing at the moon.
2. There is an International Confucius Culture Festival held annually between September 26th and October 10th in Qufu City, the hometown of Confucius. It is a big fair to celebrate the birthday of Confucius, where you could pursue the far-reaching oriental culture and the roots of Chinese moral values.

1. September is at end of typhoon season, which means there is a large possibility that tourist would encounter typhoon and enormous rainfall in southern cities like Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Pay a close attention to the weather forecast before going.
2. There will be big temperature differences between day and night in Tibet, Qinghai and destinations along the Silk Road. You'd better pack layers of clothes to keep warm.
3. There are no statutory holiday in September in China and school is in session, so you will not come across big crowds of travelers. And you could even expect to find some great deals on airfare and accommodations this month.
4. China's biggest travel rush of National Day Holiday usually lasts from Oct.1 to 7, so travel at the end of September can be quite expensive. Do make bookings in advance and ensure you don't get caught in October-travel-mayhem.