China is a vast country spanning multiple climate zones, from tropical Hainan to frozen Northeast China, from arid Xinjiang to the high-altitude Tibet. The weather can vary wildly between different regions—you could experience summer and winter in one country! Before you pack your bags, make sure to check the climate of your destination to prepare the right clothes and supplies.

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Northern China: Northeast & North China (Beijing, Harbin, Xi'an)

Northern China has a temperate monsoon climate, with clear four seasons: long cold winters, hot rainy summers, and short spring and autumn.

Climate Features

- **Winter (Nov - Mar)**: Extremely cold, temperatures can drop to -30℃ in Northeast China, and below 0℃ in North China. Dry and freezing.

- **Summer (Jun - Aug)**: Hot, 25-35℃, with concentrated rainfall, frequent showers.

- **Spring & Autumn (Apr-May, Sep-Oct)**: Mild temperature, but large day-night temperature difference, changeable weather.

Packing Tips

- **For Winter Travel**:

    - Warm clothes: Thick long down jacket, thermal underwear, wool pants, thick sweaters

    - Protection: Waterproof snow boots, wool hat, thick scarf, waterproof gloves, hand warmers

    - Skincare: Moisturizing cream, lip balm, to fight the dry weather

- **For Summer Travel**:

    - Clothes: Short-sleeve T-shirts, thin pants, breathable shirts

    - Sun protection: SPF30+ sunscreen, sunglasses, sun shirt, the UV is strong in northern summer

    - Rain gear: Foldable umbrella, for sudden summer showers

- **For Spring & Autumn**: We recommend "layered dressing"—wear a short-sleeve inside, with a thin coat outside, so you can add or remove clothes easily.

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Southern China: South & East China (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Sanya)

Southern China has subtropical and tropical monsoon climate, warm and wet all year round, long hot summers, mild winters.

Climate Features

- **Winter (Dec - Feb)**: Mild, 10-20℃, in South China like Hainan, it can be over 25℃, no severe cold.

- **Summer (May - Oct)**: Hot and humid, over 30℃, high humidity, it's the rainy season with frequent rainstorms and typhoons.

- **All year**: Lots of mosquitoes, especially in summer and rainy season.

Packing Tips

- **For Winter Travel**:

    - Clothes: Thin coat, long-sleeve shirts, no need for heavy down jacket. Southern China has no central heating, so it can be damp cold indoors, you can bring thin thermal underwear.

- **For Summer Travel**:

    - Clothes: Short sleeves, shorts, breathable sandals, quick-dry clothes are perfect for humid weather

    - Sun protection: High SPF sunscreen, sun hat, sun shirt, for the strong sun

    - Rain gear: Portable raincoat or foldable umbrella, rain is very frequent in rainy season

    - Mosquito protection: Mosquito repellent, anti-itch cream, there are lots of mosquitoes in the south

- If you are going to tropical beaches like Hainan, remember to bring your swimsuit and beach shoes!

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Northwest China: Xinjiang, Gansu, Western Inner Mongolia (Dunhuang, Urumqi, Hulunbuir)

Northwest China has a temperate continental climate, dry and low rainfall. The most famous feature is the **huge day-night temperature difference**—there's a saying: "Wear fur coat at dawn, silk at noon, eat watermelon around the stove". The UV radiation is also extremely strong here.

Climate Features

- Low rainfall all year, dry air. No matter what season, the day-night temperature difference can reach 10-20℃—hot in the day, cool at night.

- UV radiation is much stronger than other regions, easy to get sunburned.

- Sandstorm may happen in spring.

Packing Tips

- **Clothes**: You must prepare layered clothes! You can wear short sleeves in the day, but you need a thin coat or jacket at night. Even in summer, the night temperature can drop below 15℃.

- **Moisturizing skincare**: Strong moisturizing cream, lip balm, hand cream. The air is so dry here that your skin can get cracked easily.

- **Sun protection**: SPF50+ ultra-high sunscreen, wide-brim sun hat, polarized sunglasses, sun scarf. Full protection to avoid sunburn.

- **Wind protection**: If you travel in spring, bring a windproof coat and mask, to deal with possible sandstorms.

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Qinghai-Tibet Region: Tibet, Qinghai (Lhasa, Qinghai Lake, Nyingchi)

The Qinghai-Tibet region has a plateau mountain climate. With high altitude and thin air, the climate features: extreme day-night temperature difference, super strong UV, dry air, and changeable weather—you may even meet snow in summer!

Climate Features

- The day-night temperature difference can reach over 20℃! In summer, it can be 25℃ in the day, but drop to 5℃ at night.

- High altitude means the UV is several times stronger than plain areas, very easy to get sunburned.

- Thin air, dry and low oxygen, some travelers may have altitude sickness.

Packing Tips

- **Clothes**: Layered dressing is a must! You can wear long sleeves to protect from sun in the day, but you need a thick coat, even a thin down jacket at night. Many travelers bring down jackets to Tibet even in summer, to deal with the cold night.

- **Sun protection**: SPF50+ sunscreen, sun mask, wide-brim hat, polarized sunglasses. The UV on plateau is so strong that you can get sunburned even on cloudy days!

- **Moisturizing & Altitude sickness**: Strong moisturizing skincare, lip balm, for the dry air. Prepare Rhodiola rosea pills for altitude sickness, we recommend you start taking it one week before your trip.

- **Shoes**: Comfortable hiking shoes. Many attractions in plateau need walking, comfortable shoes can save you a lot of energy.

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Universal Packing List: Things You Need No Matter Where You Go

1. **Documents**: Original and copy of your passport and visa, hotel reservation, itinerary. Save the electronic copy in your phone as backup.

2. **Common Medicines**: Cold medicine, stomach medicine (to deal with the possible discomfort from Chinese food), motion sickness medicine, band-aids. Prepare your usual medicines as you need.

3. **Electronics**: Phone charger, power bank (note: power bank cannot be checked in luggage, you need to carry it with you). If your devices use other plug standards, prepare a China standard plug adapter.

4. **Others**: Portable rain gear (you can meet sudden rain in most regions), sunscreen (the UV in most parts of China is stronger than many European and American regions), a small amount of cash (even though mobile payment is very popular in China, some small places still need cash).