Spring is widely considered China’s best travel season — and for good reason. The cold of winter eases in March, the summer humidity hasn’t arrived yet, and the country erupts in colour: cherry blossoms, rapeseed fields, peonies, wildflowers at altitude. The crowds at natural scenic areas haven’t hit peak summer levels. It’s genuinely excellent.
The one caveat: the Labour Day Golden Week holiday (May 1-5) creates massive domestic tourism crowds. Plan around it or embrace it strategically.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
March: Cherry Blossoms and Early Spring
Wuhan (武汉) — Cherry Blossoms Wuhan University (武汉大学) is China’s most famous cherry blossom destination — the campus was planted with Japanese cherry trees in the 1930s and the pink canopy over the historic university buildings in mid-to-late March is genuinely beautiful. A timed entry system now controls the crowds, but it still gets busy on weekends.
Opening period: typically March 10-25 (exact dates shift by a week or two depending on the year’s temperatures). Book well ahead.
Beyond the university campus, Wuhan’s East Lake (东湖) Cherry Blossom Festival in Moshan Scenic Area runs simultaneously and is slightly less crowded.
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing — Urban Cherry Blossoms A large park in western Beijing with the city’s best cherry blossom display and mountain views. Less well-known internationally than Wuhan but very popular with Beijing residents. Usually peaks late March to early April. Entry ¥5.
Yunnan — Perfect Weather Window March-April is Yunnan’s last stretch of dry-season perfection before the June monsoon begins. Lijiang, Dali, and Shangri-La all have clear skies and comfortable temperatures. This is one of the best months for the Yunnan highland experience.
Guilin — The water levels in the Li River are low in late winter but begin rising in spring, improving the reflections and mist conditions. March-April is a good period, and the countryside rice paddies turn bright green in April.
April: The Peak Spring Month
Wuyuan, Jiangxi (婺源) — Rapeseed Fields Wuyuan is a county in northern Jiangxi Province where some of China’s best-preserved Huizhou-style villages are surrounded by rapeseed (canola) flower fields. In April — typically peaking in the last week of March and first two weeks of April — the fields turn a spectacular bright yellow. The combination of whitewashed walls, grey tile roofs, and yellow fields makes for extraordinary photography.
The most photographed village is Jiangwan (江湾) and the aerial view over Shicheng (石城) hilltop at dawn with the fields below and the misty village. Access: fly or train to Jingdezhen or Yingtan, then bus or private car to Wuyuan.
Luoyang (洛阳) — Peony Festival Luoyang was historically famous as the peony capital of China, and the Luoyang Peony Festival runs approximately April 5-May 5, with peak flowering usually around April 15-25 (temperature-dependent). The Sui-Tang Luoyang City National Heritage Park and the China National Flower Garden (中国国花园) have large displays.
Luoyang also has the Longmen Grottoes — one of China’s finest Buddhist cave art sites — making this a compelling April destination independent of the peonies.
Hangzhou Tea Harvest Season The Qingming Tea (明前茶) — the first spring picking of Longjing (Dragon Well) green tea before the Qingming festival — is the most prized tea in China. April is the tea harvest month in the Hangzhou area, and visiting Longjing village (龙井村) to buy direct from farmers at this time means the freshest possible tea at honest prices. The smell of fresh green tea in a tea garden in April is remarkable.
Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟), Sichuan — Re-opening The UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Sichuan is closed through winter (roughly November 15 to April 1). April and May are the re-opening months — visitor numbers are low, the waterfalls are at their highest from snowmelt, and the turquoise lakes are brilliant. June-October is busier but the scenery is also extraordinary.
Entry: ¥169 in shoulder season, ¥220 in peak. Book at least 2-4 weeks ahead; numbers are capped.
May: Excellent But Watch the Crowds
Zhangjiajie, Hunan May is excellent for Zhangjiajie — the Avatar Mountains’ sandstone pillars are green with vegetation, the waterfalls are full, and the cloud formations are at their most dramatic. Weather is warm but not the humid heat of summer.
Tibet (Tibetan Plateau) May begins the accessible season in Tibet. The mountain passes start to open and Lhasa is at its best in late May — comfortable temperatures, clear skies, and the spring wildflowers appearing on the plateau grasslands. Book your Tibet Travel Permit through a licensed agency at least 3 weeks ahead.
Inner Mongolia Grasslands May sees the grasslands turning green after winter — the Hulun Buir and Xilingol grassland areas are spectacular in late May and June when the grass is lush and the wildflowers are blooming. A long way from the main tourist track, which is part of the appeal.
The Labour Day Golden Week Problem
Labour Day (劳动节) runs May 1-5 in China, and it creates significant domestic travel pressure. All scenic areas in the country will be crowded; trains and flights are heavily booked.
Strategies:
- Travel before May 1: April 26-30 is the sweet spot — spring conditions without the Golden Week crowds
- If you must travel May 1-5: Choose urban destinations (Shanghai, Xi’an, Nanjing) where crowds are manageable, rather than natural scenic areas where the experience is genuinely degraded
- Book everything early: Trains and accommodation for Golden Week should be booked 30-45 days ahead
Spring Weather Summary
| Region | March | April | May |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 8-15°C, dry, windy | 15-22°C, excellent | 22-28°C, warm and clear |
| Shanghai/Yangtze Delta | 10-16°C | 16-22°C, some rain | 22-27°C, humid |
| Yunnan | 18-24°C (lower altitude) | 20-25°C, perfect | 22-26°C, late dry season |
| Sichuan/Chengdu | 12-18°C | 18-24°C | 22-28°C |
| Xinjiang | Cold still, passes closed | 15-25°C | 22-30°C, warming fast |
Best Spring Combination Itinerary
A well-timed spring itinerary (3 weeks, avoiding Golden Week):
Week 1 (late March): Beijing for cherry blossoms at Yuyuantan, then Wuhan for the university campus blossoms
Week 2 (early April): Wuyuan for rapeseed fields, Hangzhou for tea harvest, Shanghai for East Coast combination
Week 3 (mid-April, departing before May 1): Yunnan — Kunming, Dali, Lijiang in peak dry season conditions
This avoids the Labour Day crowds entirely while catching three of China’s most distinctive spring events.