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Climate

The largest part of China is in a moderate zone with separate seasons. There are distinctive climatic differences resulting from monsoons, the expanse of the land area, and the considerable differences in altitude. While it is generally warm and humid in southeastern and central China, the north and northeast are relatively dry.

The best time for traveling is in spring (May) or fall (September/October). In many areas, it is hot, humid and rainy in summer, while dry in winter. In northern China, more than 80 percent of rainfall occurs in the summer months, but only 40 percent of the annual rainfall occurs in southern China during the same period.

There are frequent typhoons in southeast China during the rainy season, between July and September. It is extremely cold in the north areas in winter.

The northeast has hot, dry summers and long, cold winters. Summer in the desert regions of Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia is also hot and dry, while winter is cold and dry. In central China, the summers are hot and humid, with a lot of rainfall in the late summer months. In the low-lying regions of the Yangtze, winter is somewhat milder than in the central Chinese loess mountain regions or in Sichuan, which is surrounded by mountains. In the regions around Beijing, Xi'an and Zhengzhou, there are occasional sandstorms in winter and spring. On the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau (average altitude: 4,000m), summer is short and moderately warm, while winter very cold.

Time

All of China observes Beijing Time which is GMT +8 hours. When it's 12 NOON in Beijing It's- 12 PM in Hong Kong; 2 PM in Sydney and Guam; 4 PM in Auckland; 6 PM in Hawaii and Anchorage; 8 PM in Los Angeles and Vancouver; 9 PM in Denver; 10 PM in Chicago; 11 PM in New York and Montreal; 4 AM in London; 5 AM in Paris; 6 AM in Cape Town.

Culture & Customs

Chinese politeness has always been a formal one that follows strict rules. Travelers are advised to remain polite towards their Chinese counterparts, and to refrain from shouting or insulting. Stay calm in all situations but indicate politely and firmly what your problem or inquiry is about.

It is bad for Chinese to lose face, especially in front of a foreigner. Don't put Chinese in a position where they might lose face. Any criticism should be done discreetly and tactfully.

It is usually not the custom in China to greet people with a handshake, though it is commonly used with foreigners. Moreover, embracing or kissing when greeting or saying good-bye is highly unusual. Generally, Chinese do not show their emotions and feelings in public. Consequently, it is better not to behave in too carefree a manner in public. Too, it is advisable to be fairly cautious in political discussions.

It is very important for the Chinese to have good connections; someone who has no connections is only half-Chinese.

When to Come

The best time to visit China is in the autumn, preferably in October. At that time, temperatures are reasonable throughout China: ranging from 7 to 20 C in northern Beijing, from 20 to 29 C in southern Guangzhou. Also, there shall be little rain. In Beijing, this is the only month in the year that the really ancient and valuable paintings in the Palace Museum are displayed as the humidity is low and the temperature is just right. If the climate is right for a Song painting, it should be right for you. There is, however, the minor drawback of traffic crowding at major sites since October is the travel season in China.

Winter can be incredibly cold in the north and somewhat dismal and wet in the south, but there are also compensations. Throughout the winter (from November to early March the next year) in the north, the sky is usually bright and blue and you can often see the sun. The brightness is a compensation for the cold. The area to the south of the Yangtze River can be chilly in winter as there is virtually no central heating there, although the temperature can hover around freezing for days and snow is not unknown. However, sub-tropical Fujian province and Guangdong province can be wonderful through the winter, with poinsettia trees in blossom and extremely balmy weather.

Spring can be delightful but the weather is also unpredictable. Average temperatures in April are roughly the same as those for October in Beijing and Guangzhou, though it is twice as likely to be wet in Guangzhou. Spring is a good time to travel but you should be prepared for both chilly and warm weather. Summer (from June to the end of August) can be extremely hot. It is also the time that most rain falls. So you may as well need to invest in an umbrella and plastic sandals.


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