In April, spring is in the air in most of China. The weather is cool to warm and agreeable for traveling across most of the country.
Fruit trees and flowers bloom. It’s a good time to do outdoor activities, but you need to prepare for rainy days. There is still freezing weather in the extreme north and mountainous regions.
April Weather Conditions in China
- Average daily temperature range: 9–20°C (48–68°F)
- Average rainfall: 70 mm (3 in)
- Daytime clothing: sweater, trousers, light rain-proof coat sweater
- Evening clothing: sweater, warm trousers, warm coat
- Tourism: Tourist numbers start to increase at major attractions. Spring is refreshing and a good time for hiking.
Tips for Traveling Around China in April
- April is the best time to appreciate beautiful and refreshing floral scenery: pink peach blossoms in Nyingchi, flourishing rape flower in Luoping and Wuyuan, apricot blossoms in Ili…
- South China areas such as Zhangjiajie, Hangzhou, Huangshan, and Guilin will meet frequent showers/drizzle. On the plus side, the rain brings fresh air and magical misty scenery. Rain gear is needed.
- Outdoor activities such as biking and hiking would be at an opportune time in Yunnan as spring comes just before the rainy season.
- April is a shoulder season. Favorable prices and fewer tourists can be expected.
Best April Destinations
April is a pleasant time for traveling to outdoorsy destinations, appreciating flowers, and hiking.
For Spring Scenery and the Great Outdoors:
Peach blossom in Nyingchi, Tibet- Yunnan: sunny weather, outdoor activities like hiking and biking, rape flower appreciation in Luoping…
- Tibet: peach blossom meets snowy peaks, mysterious Tibetan culture
- Guilin & Yangshuo: pastoral scenery like a Chinese ink painting, outdoor activities like rock climbing and ATV driving, Li River cruises, traditional folk song festival, watching spring ploughing…
- Huangshan: seas of clouds on the Yellow Mountains, bright canola fields, quiet villages away from the hustle and bustle…
Recommended tours:
- 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour — Meet Beautiful Yunnan in Spring
- 8-Day Lhasa, Nyingchi, and Bome Spring Tour — When Spring's Pink Blends with Mysterious Tibet
- 6-Day Guilin, Yangshuo, and Longsheng Tour — A Song of the Countryside
- 3-Day Ancient Villages and Yellow Mountains Tour — Escape to a Rural Utopia
Contact us to create a trip for your spring break according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements.
For Less-Traveled Routes
Jinchuan Valley’s pear flowers blossom, Western Sichuan- Western Sichuan: plateau scenery and pear flower blossom, horse riding on a vast grassland, Tibetan villages and culture…
- Foshan: delicious food, learning martial arts, watching lion dances…
- Hengdian: watch filming in action, take Instagrammable photos dressed up in classical Chinese costumes…
Recommended tours:
- 4-Day Western Sichuan Tibetan Spring Tour from Chengdu — Tibetan Spring Joy
- 3-Day Kaiping and Foshan Tour — South China’s Essence
- 2-Day Hengdian World Studios Weekend Getaway — Hollywood of China, Action!
Read more about the Top 8 Places to Visit in China in April.
West China — Yunnan, Guizhou, Western Sichuan, Tibet, the Silk Road…
Dali Old Town, YunnanTibet and Yunnan are worth visiting in April. It's usually sunny in April, apart from in the mountains. There will be rainfall in afternoon, but not large quantity. Temperatures drop on rainy days.
If you want to experience Tibetan culture and plateau scenery and seek for a lower risk of suffering altitude sickness, then Western Sichuan is good to go with no Travel Permit.
April is also a good time to see sowing and join some minority festivals ( Sisters’ Meal Festival) in Guizhou. The weather in Guizhou in April is warm but changeable, with some short cold spells. Rainfall is frequent but is mostly drizzle.
April is not a good time to travel to Urumqi due to frequent dust storms. The weather is dry and cloudy, and it is still quite cold.
Clothing: Sweaters, warm trousers, wind-proof coat, dress for freezing weather if you are visiting Mount Everest Base Camp.
Recommended Tours
- 5-Day Lhasa Classics and Holy Lake Yomdrok Tour
- 6-Day Guizhou Minority Festival Tour
- 9-Day Yunnan Dynamic Family Tour
All our tours can be customized. The itinerary can be adjusted according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements. Just contact us.
South China — Guilin, Foshan, Xiamen, Quanzhou...
Longsheng (Guilin)'s rape flowerSouth China is already quite warm in April — a good time for spring travel. It can be quite hot in late April, so bring light clothes.
Guilin can still be quite cool following the frequent rain in April. The average temperature range is 17–24°C (63–75°F) and there are on average 22 days (248 mm, 10”) of rain, including some storms.
While Pearl River Delta (Foshan, Chaozhou, Shantou, etc.) will be much warmer.
Clothing: shorts, T-shirts, light sweater and trousers for the evenings, light rain gear
Recommended Tours
- 8-Day Guilin, Yangshuo and Guizhou Relaxation Tour
- 3-Day Xiamen, Gulangyu, and Tulou Tour
- 3-Day Quanzhou Tour with Anxi Oolong Tea Experience
- 3-Day Kaiping and Foshan Tour
East China — The Yellow Mountains, Shanghai, Hengdian, Suzhou…
Hongcun Village, HuangshanThe weather is changeable in east China. It can be cool and damp, but it can be warm and sunny too.
Take Shanghai as an example — the average temperature range is 11–19 °C (52 –66°F) and there are typically 15 days (97 mm, 4”) of rain in April. It can be up to 30°C (86°F) in late April.
The villages of Huangshan are beautiful, with canola flowers blooming in April. The cool weather is good for hiking between ancient villages. And the Yellow Mountains have fresh verdure and characteristic seas of cloud in April.
Clothing: T-shirt, light trousers, and a sweater for daytime; layers and waterproofs for mountainous areas and evenings
Recommended Tours
- 2-Day Hengdian World Studios Weekend Getaway
- 3-Day Yellow Mountains Tour
- 2-Day Essential Suzhou and Tongli Water Town, from Shanghai
Contact us to create a trip for your spring break according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements.
Central China — Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, the Yangtze River…
Bungee jumping in ZhangjiajieIt's mild/warm in central China in April, and still quite dry.
Take Chengdu as an example — the average temperature range is 13–22°C (55–72°F) and there are typically 20 days (47 mm, 2”) of rain in April. Zhangjiajie shares similar weather.
Chengdu is already in its high season during April, and tourist attractions are crowded. If you want to visit Chengdu in April, plan your trip in advance.
Zhangjiajie is cool and beautiful for travelling in April. There will be misty and foggy scenery to enjoy at the pillars and peaks, especially on rainy days. Note that it is cooler and rainier in the mountains.
Clothing: T-shirt, light trousers or shorts, light sweater, with a light coat or waterproof for evenings or rainy days.
North China — Beijing, Xi'an...
Hike on the Great WallIn north China, the weather is warm during the day but chilly at night. There is still not much rainfall in April. So it's a great time for hiking and other outdoor activities.
In Beijing, the average temperature range is 8–20°C (46–68°F) and there are typically 4 days (22 mm, 1”) of rain in April. Plants and trees turn green and it's a good time for appreciating spring scenery. Xi'an has similar weather to Beijing.
Cities in the extreme north can be colder by 10°C/50°F.
As the weather warms up the natural scenery turns green. It's a good time to visit the Great Wall around Beijing.
April is one of the best months to travel to Xi’an. Enjoy the best weather in low season, with room rates, other prices, and crowding much lower than the following six months.
Clothing: light trousers, T-shirts, light sweater and jacket, with a warmer coat for the evenings
Recommended Tours
Festivals Make April More Colorful
The Water Splashing FestivalWater Splashing Festival: This festival is usually celebrated in April in Yunnan where the Dai Minority live. They dress in traditional clothes and splash water on others as a blessing. Read more about the Water Splashing Festival.
- Recommended tour: 6-Day Xishuangbanna Water Splashing Festival and Pu'er Tour
Zhuang Minority Folk Song Festival in Guangxi: On this day, men and women divide into gender teams, and they sing alternately in antiphonal style. Read more about the Zhuang Minority Folk Song Festival.
Most Popular China Tours for April
Pack your bag and come with us to explore the beauty of China. Below are our suggested tours for your inspiration. Modify these tours as you wish.
- 4-Day Western Sichuan Tibetan Spring Tour from Chengdu — Tibetan Spring Joy (Permit-Free)
- 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour — Meet the Amazing Beauty of Yunnan
- 8-Day Guilin, Yangshuo and Guizhou Relaxation Tour — Picturesque Karst Scenery and Idyllic Countryside
- 14-Day Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Guilin/Yangshuo, Shanghai Tour — China Natural Wonders Discovery
All our tours can be customized. If you are not interested in the above destinations or tours, you can contact us to tailor-make an April tour for you.
