The spring is cool and dry in northern China. There is barely any rain, and by April highs average around 20 °C (68 °F) in Beijing and the surrounding areas. Even the weather in freezing Harbin in the icy northeast starts to relent in spring. The city's snow melts and by April lows are above zero Celsius (32 °F) and average highs a balmy 12 °C (54 °F). Spring proves an ideal time to visit northern China before the harsh heat of summer heat kicks in.
March and April is warm and dry in central China, with the country's 'three furnace-like cities, Chongqing, Wuhan and Nanjing quickly begin to warm up with average highs a comfortable 22 °C (72 °F) in April. Though not as bone dry as in winter or as wet as in the summer monsoon seasons. There are the occasional showers with precipitation averaging between 40 to 80 mm per day across the three famed cities. Most days are dry, but on some an umbrella is needed.
Southern China has a humid subtropical climate, warm to hot the whole year round. March, before the rains, is warm and dry(ish). April sees warm, mainly dry spring weather in southern China. Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, sees highs of 25 °C (77 °F) degrees throughout the season and lows of around 10 °C (50 °F), with minimal rain (though it picks up in June) before the bursting of the spectacular summer monsoon.
The spring is cool and dry in northwest China, many people choosing this time to visit to avoid the extremes of winter cold. In Lanzhou, capital of Gansu, high temperatures range from minus 3 to 6 °C (27 - 42 °F) in March and 15 to 25 °C (59 to 77 °F) in April, the vast majority of the days dry.
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March
The Naxi people celebrate this one-day festival every year to honor the jade dragon snow mountain hero who protects the Lijiang area. They visit the Sanduo statue in the temple and make ceremonial animal sacrifices. The families of the community cook and share food, while playing games set to music and dancing.
Location Lijiang, China
March
The Miao people are an ethnic minority of Guizhou province and those in Nankai come together to celebrate their culture in this one-day festival. They wear authentic traditional dress and put on plays and performances of Lusheng reed pipe music with folk dancing. Visitors flock to enjoy the food market and carnival atmosphere.
Location Nankai, China
April-May
On this one-day festival, the people from tribes all around Guangxi province come together, wearing their best traditional clothes, all in red. There are games and competitions including beauty parades, folk drumming, sports and tug-of-war. Young men and women try to find love and there is folk music and dancing.
Location Guangxi, China
Celebrated in many different places - In Lusheng it is September (biggest one)
This is a popular four-day festival celebrated by the Miao ethnic minority of Guizhou. The Lusheng reed pipe dates back to the Tang dynasty and, as a symbol of Miao history, is played throughout the festival at ceremonies and performances of traditional dances. There are horse races on the third day and bullfighting on the fourth.
Location Lusheng, China
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