SeasonMapChina in May
May is one of China's best months (rank 3 of 12): its 28 destinations average 77/100, led by Beijing at 91 — 26°C and 3 rainy days — while Lhasa is cooler at 14°C and scores 83.
#3 of 12 months for China · 28 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Where in China in May
| # | Place | Type | Feels-like high | Rain | Comfort | At its best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing | City | 26°C | 15 mm · 3 days | 91 tier S | Yes |
| 2 | Dali | City | 26°C | 59 mm · 8 days | 91 tier S | Yes |
| 3 | Hotan | City | 24°C | 5 mm · 1 day | 90 tier S | Yes |
| 4 | Kashgar | City | 26°C | 18 mm · 5 days | 89 tier A | Yes |
| 5 | Ürümqi | City | 20°C | 33 mm · 7 days | 89 tier A | Yes |
| 6 | Shangri-La | Trekking hub | 15°C | 88 mm · 17 days | 88 tier A | Yes |
| 7 | Xi'an | City | 26°C | 73 mm · 8 days | 88 tier A | Yes |
| 8 | Lijiang | Trekking hub | 22°C | 89 mm · 10 days | 86 tier A | — |
| 9 | Kunming | City | 25°C | 109 mm · 14 days | 85 tier A | Yes |
| 10 | Harbin | City | 18°C | 79 mm · 11 days | 84 tier A | Yes |
| 11 | Lhasa | Trekking hub | 14°C | 100 mm · 21 days | 83 tier A | — |
| 12 | Shanghai | City | 26°C | 109 mm · 11 days | 83 tier A | Yes |
| 13 | Huangshan | National park | 18°C | 171 mm · 16 days | 81 tier A | Yes |
| 14 | Jiuzhaigou | National park | 17°C | 171 mm · 22 days | 81 tier A | Yes |
| 15 | Chengdu | City | 27°C | 79 mm · 14 days | 80 tier A | Yes |
| 16 | Suzhou | City | 25°C | 114 mm · 11 days | 80 tier A | Yes |
| 17 | Qingdao | Beach | 19°C | 47 mm · 6 days | 78 tier B | — |
| 18 | Sanya | Beach | 31°C | 154 mm · 16 days | 78 tier B | — |
| 19 | Hangzhou | City | 28°C | 164 mm · 14 days | 74 tier B | — |
| 20 | Pingyao | City | 26°C | 163 mm · 13 days | 74 tier B | — |
| 21 | Chongqing | City | 28°C | 159 mm · 20 days | 71 tier B | — |
| 22 | Jinghong | City | 34°C | 115 mm · 13 days | 63 tier C | — |
| 23 | Xiamen | City | 27°C | 197 mm · 19 days | 61 tier C | — |
| 24 | Zhangjiajie | National park | 25°C | 248 mm · 19 days | 61 tier C | — |
| 25 | Guilin | City | 26°C | 276 mm · 24 days | 58 tier D | — |
| 26 | Yangshuo | Trekking hub | 27°C | 253 mm · 23 days | 57 tier D | — |
| 27 | Shenzhen | City | 34°C | 227 mm · 21 days | 55 tier D | — |
| 28 | Guangzhou | City | 34°C | 265 mm · 19 days | 50 tier D | — |
Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 score; each place is judged through the lens that suits it — beaches on beach weather, ski resorts on snow. "At its best" means May is one of that place's own top three months. Feels-like highs fold in humidity, wind and sun.
What's on in China in May
- Labour Day holiday · Beijing and 1 more place · 1–5 May
- Saga Dawa · Lhasa · 10 May – 20 Jun (usually)
- May Day holiday · Shanghai · 1–5 May
- Sea of clouds · Zhangjiajie · 1 Apr – 30 Jun (usually)
- Longji terraces under water · Guilin · 20 Apr – 15 Jun (usually)
- Canton Fair, spring session · Guangzhou · 15 Apr – 5 May
- Lychee season · Guangzhou · 20 May – 20 Jul (usually)
- Dragon boat month · Guangzhou · 25 May – 25 Jun (usually)
Seasons in force
Peak crowds at 3 of China's 16 well-known places this month.