China
China in May
Where it is warm, dry and good for swimming in China in May — compared across the country’s main destinations.
Quick answers
- Where is it warmest in China in May?
- Guangzhou is the warmest of the 16 destinations compared, with highs of 29°C (84°F) in May; Lhasa is the coolest at 19°C (66°F).
- Can you swim in the sea in China in May?
- Yes, in places: the warmest water is at Zhuhai (26°C (79°F)), and 1 of the coastal destinations have a sea of 21 °C or more.
Warmest
29°
Guangzhou
Coolest
19°
Lhasa
Driest
25 mm
Lhasa
Warmest sea
26°
Zhuhai
Across China, May highs run from 19°C (66°F) (Lhasa) to 29°C (84°F) (Guangzhou). On average it is 4.5 °C (8 °F) warmer than April. Rain is frequent in most destinations. Best bets this month: Beijing, Dunhuang, and Kashgar.
Best places in China in May
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93 
Beijing
Beijing · China
27° / 14° 31 mm May
95
Dunhuang
Gansu · China
27° / 10° 4 mm May
94
Kashgar
Xinjiang · China
26° / 13° 16 mm May
93
Ürümqi
Xinjiang · China
23° / 11° 32 mm May
93
Jinan
Shandong · China
26° / 15° 48 mm May
97
Wuhai
Inner Mongolia · China
24° / 9° 12 mm May
97
Jiayuguan
Gansu · China
22° / 7° 9 mm May
91
Datong
Shanxi · China
24° / 8° 29 mm May
Weather in May by city
| Place | Day | Night | Rain | Sea | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 27° | 14° | 31 mm | — | 93 |
| Dalian | 20° | 12° | 46 mm | 12° | 84 |
| Qingdao | 21° | 13° | 55 mm | — | 83 |
| Harbin | 22° | 8° | 39 mm | — | 81 |
| Xi'an | 26° | 14° | 65 mm | — | 80 |
| Nanjing | 26° | 16° | 92 mm | — | 78 |
| Kunming | 25° | 14° | 92 mm | — | 77 |
| Dali | 25° | 14° | 55 mm | — | 75 |
| Lhasa | 19° | 5° | 25 mm | — | 72 |
| Suzhou | 25° | 17° | 93 mm | — | 71 |
| Shanghai | 24° | 16° | 94 mm | — | 70 |
| Hangzhou | 26° | 17° | 154 mm | — | 67 |
| Zhuhai | 28° | 23° | 320 mm | 26° | 67 |
| Chengdu | 26° | 17° | 84 mm | — | 66 |
| Guilin | 27° | 20° | 338 mm | — | 59 |
| Guangzhou | 29° | 23° | 271 mm | — | 49 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in China in May?
Average daytime highs range from 19° in Lhasa to 29° in Guangzhou.
Can you swim in China in May?
Yes — the sea is warmest around Zhuhai at about 26°.