Weather in China in May
May in China is mild enough that walking is the default. This is a city-break month more than a sea-holiday month.
A country pin in May is a warning: one region of China will not match another. Use a city page if you already know where you are going. Compared with July and January, May sits in the middle of China's year.
- Average temp
- 14°C
7–21°C
- Rainfall
- 52 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 7.9 h
hours per day
What to expect
Daytime
Mild afternoons in China are the prize in May. You can eat outside on the good days. You still want something for the breeze.
This is walking weather. Shade is useful, not essential the way it is in the hot months. A long outdoor day is a reasonable plan.
Rain
Mixed skies in China in May. Dry days and wet days share the month. Outdoor plans need a backup, not a cancellation policy.
Pack a shell you will actually carry. The monthly table is the place for totals. This is the feel: usable, interrupted.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
Sun protection
Rain jacket
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in China
Featured stays on trip1. Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for China
What to read before you book.
Average weather in China
TemperatureRainfall
Check another month
This is the month you are reading. Change either side to look at another.
FAQs about China
Climate averages for China, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit China is between April and September, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
July is the hottest month, with an average around 20°C.
August is the wettest month, with about 71 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
