A trip to China invites you to discover a fascinating culture and world-famous sights. The country looks back on 5,000 years of human history, and religious architecture will be your constant companion. The landscapes of China are just as varied as the traditions and festivities that have been cultivated for centuries. Politeness and hospitality are among the irrefutable rules of conduct. A national cuisine that varies from region to region promises culinary highlights and rounds off the colorful diversity of this unique country. See eLaineqho to learn more about peoples republic of China.
Are you thinking about a trip to China? We would be happy to provide you with lots of information and travel tips as a contact person for all questions about the People’s Republic of China and various types of travel.
Information & key data about the Middle Kingdom
- Area: approx. 9.6 million km²
- Population: approx. 1.4 billion people
- Capital: Beijing
- Regions: 6 with a total of 22 + 1 provinces
- Official language: Chinese
- Currency: Renminbi (CNY)
- Government system: Socialist Republic
- President: Xi Jinping
- Largest river: Yangtze (Chang Jiang)
- Largest mountain: Mount Everest (Qomolangma)
- Neighboring countries: 14, including Russia, India, Vietnam
- Economy: second largest economy in the world
- Known for: Great Wall of China, Terracotta Army, Tea Culture, The Forbidden City
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: over 50 (as of 2021)
- Venue of the 2008 Summer Olympics
On a journey of discovery through almost all climate zones on earth
The enormous land area combined with extensive mountain landscapes leads to a variety of different climate zones. A full two-thirds of China lies above 1,000 meters in altitude, with the central Chinese mountains considered a climatic divide. As a natural barrier, it makes it difficult for the cold air masses of the north to exchange with the warm air masses of the south. The east and west of the country, on the other hand, have different rainfall conditions. While the East is known for its humid climate, the West is considered to be rather dry. Due to these contrasting climate zones, the question of the best time to travel cannot be answered as generally as it might be possible for other countries. Reason enough to introduce you to the climatic conditions of China and its regions in more detail.
The climate of the regions on your trip to China
Northeast China has a continental climate characterized by cold, dry winters and warm summers. While the thermometer can drop to minus 20 degrees in the snowy winter, the summer monsoon brings high humidity and (sometimes unpleasant) humidity. The best times to travel to the northeast are therefore spring and autumn. The same applies to the north of China, which is characterized by a dry desert climate. Even though the winters are frosty, comparatively little snow falls. Summers are hot, with constant temperatures of over 30 degrees, but not humid.
In eastern China you can expect a temperate monsoon climate with cold, snowless winters and hot, humid summers. You have to be prepared for rainy summer and winter months in the southeast of the country. With a continental climate, autumn is the best time to travel here.
Extreme weather can sometimes be expected on your tour
Towards southern China you will encounter a tropical climate. Europeans find the dry winters with average temperatures around 20 degrees very pleasant. When the amount of precipitation increases in summer and the humidity rises, it becomes humid and humid. For this reason, the months from October to March are recommended as the best time to travel to the south.
Western China is characterized by high mountain ranges with a cool mountain climate. As the seasons change, summer is warm and rainy, winter is cold and sunny. Travel is particularly pleasant in spring, when temperatures slowly rise again and the number of rainy days remains manageable. The peak summer months from June to September are suitable for high alpine areas.
Conclusion: Many regions in China present travelers with particular challenges in both summer and winter. The winter months are often bitterly cold, while summer brings hurricanes, monsoon rain and humidity. In general, it can be said that precipitation increases from west to east and from north to south and that the majority of the rain falls in the summer months. A compromise for a round trip, for example, would be the months of April and May or September to October. During this time there are pleasant temperatures almost everywhere and the amount of precipitation is limited.
From the top of the world down to the tropical beaches, there is much to experience
China offers a variety of regions, each producing fascinating natural beauty in their own way. These range from mountains and glaciers to deserts and steppes to rainforests and sandy beaches. From the Tibetan plateau, the country slopes down in several steps down to the Pacific. The Hwangho and Yangtze Rivers flow through northern and central China and bring with them massive floods throughout the year, which are regulated with the help of reservoirs and dams. With a length of 6,300 kilometers, the Yangtze is the longest river in the country and – after the Nile and the Amazon – the third longest river in the world.
While the highlands of Tibet are characterized by majestic mountains, salt lakes, grasslands and moorland regions, in the northwest there are two vast desert areas that are separated from each other by the Tian Shan Mountains. The Taklamakan Desert is particularly famous. As the second largest sand desert in the world, it offers sand dunes up to 100 meters high and daytime temperatures around 50 degrees. On the border with Mongolia, the Altai mountain range and the Gobi Desert offer a paradise for all those animals and plants that have adapted to the extreme conditions. Snow leopards are at home here, as are Siberian ibexes, beavers and birds of prey.
The valley plains of the Yangtze offer a contrasting program. The population here is already increasing significantly and the tropical climate enables up to two rice harvests per year. Unique landscapes can be found along the major rivers, such as the Guilin Mountains on the Li River, which are one of China’s most popular travel destinations due to their impressive karst rock formations. In the coastal regions, flat plains and rolling hills create picturesque landscapes and invite you to swim with paradisiacal bays and white dream beaches. Whether it’s a luxury beach or a secluded stretch of coast, in China you can find the beach that suits you and your ideas and wishes.
