Autumn sees Northern China start to cool and lows are well below zero Celsius (32 °F) in November as the nation’s foliage bursts into color. The rain for the most part stops with precipitation in Beijing dropping to an average of just 12mm per month in October and November. The 'ice city’ of Harbin in the northeast sees a cold autumn, with highs around zero Celsius (32 °F) and lows of minus 10 °C (14 °F), many choosing this time to visit many of the ski resorts just outside the city.
This is a great time to explore Central China, the intensity of the summer heat wanes and most areas see average temperatures of around 25 °C (77 °F) and lows a balmy 15°C (59 °F). Unlike in the north, central China allows you to leave those warm winter jackets at home during the autumn.
It is cool and dry in Southern China, and for many October to December is the best time to visit. The gentle coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian Province has average highs of 23 °C in November and precipitation of 31 mm per day; Nanning in Guangxi Autonomous Region with highs around 24 °C and just 11 mm precipitation per month; Guangzhou (Canton) in Guangdong Province with highs around 25 °C (73 °F) and precipitation around 11 mm; or Kunming in Yunnan Province with highs of 18 °C (64 °F) and precipitation of 13 mm.
Northwest China’s autumns are cool and dry. In Kashgar, Xinjiang province, one of the westernmost city’s in China, October temperatures vary from 5 to 20 °C (41-68 °F) but by December that range falls rapidly to about minus 7 to 2 °C ( 19-35 °F) and winter clothing is needed once more.
