October is considered one of the best times to visit China because the high temperatures of the Chinese summer are beginning to drop and the rainfall decreases. Autumn in the country is well-marked and can provide the visitor with unique landscapes in shades of red and yellow. It is in the north of the country that you can find the best places to visit in China in October and this is precisely where you should go.
Still, it’s not just the weather that makes October a great month to see China. The end of summer school holidays also means there are fewer tourists around, making it easier for visitors to get around and allowing for smoother walks. If you are planning a visit to China, then October may be the best time of year to pack and explore this extraordinary country. During this period, the autumn foliage is already out, embellishing Chinese landscapes with the most amazing hues.
A Little Bit of Its History
China, with a recorded history of 5,000 years, is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. It was one of the countries where economic activity was first developed. As early as 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, people in the Yellow River Valley had already started farming and raising cattle. In the 21st century BC, China established a slave society with the founding of the Xia Dynasty, thus writing an end to long years of primitive society.
Read more: The Best Islands in Southeast Asia
The Forbidden City, or Palace Museum
If you are interested in historical facts, this a place has to be on your visiting list. Located at the center of Beijing, it is a powerful construction full of cultural and historical aspects as it was the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors 1420 until 1912. No wonder it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
The Great Wall of China
The capital of the People’s Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world rests in the north of the country. The mild Chinese autumn weather provides more pleasant walks and hikes on the Great Wall and the streets of Beijing. Located in a distance of 20,000 km from the Yellow Sea in the east to the Gobi Desert in the west, it is the world’s most popular tourist attraction.
The wall measures 7 meters in width and 6-14 meters in height. Regardless of its exceptional magnitude, it is not a long continuous wall but more like various sections interspersed with mountains. In addition, October is the best time to visit this place as it provides an astonishing view of the fall foliage.
Yellow Mountains
The Yellow Mountains are a mountain range located in southern Anhui Province, in eastern China and are considered the king of the Chinese mountains. Autumn is the best time of year to enjoy the sunsets, beautiful scenery, quirky granite peaks, and Huangshan pines. Tourists can also enjoy the local hot springs and natural pools, whose beauty has been a source of inspiration for painters, poets, and writers for thousands of years.
Read more: Top Destinations in South Asia for an Adventurous Traveler
Pingyao Old Town
Pingyao, also a World Heritage Site, was the financial center of China during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Located in the northern province of Shanxi, the city is one of China’s oldest walled cities and is on many lists among the best-walled cities in the world.
Preserved through the years, it is possible to visit it today and get in direct contact with the development of the culture, society, economy, and religion of the time. The city has not yet been fully discovered by foreign tourists, mainly due to its remote location, so visitors are mostly Chinese citizens. Tourists can visit China’s first bank, followed by the Rishengchang Draft Bank, the amazing Shuanglin Temple and the businessmen’s “Imperial Palaces”: Wang Family Garden, Changjiazhuang Park, and Qiao Family Complex. In addition, every year in September, the city hosts the Pingyao International Photography Festival.
China Weather in October
In October the autumn season gets into full swing and can secure plenty of sunny days, but the weather can vary drastically by region, from cool and dry to hot and rainy. On average, the weather temperature in the daytime is very pleasant, but it can get down drastically at night in some regions, so be ready to face a cooler climate at nigh times.
By the way, when thinking about packing, remember to take your most comfortable shoes as you may do a lot of sightseeing. Make sure you have layers of clothes as temperatures may vary throughout the day and you may also work up a sweat with all that exploring.
Important Travel Tips
October is a month of the biggest National Holiday in China and it starts on the 1st and extends for a week – till October 7th. Therefore, if you are planning a visit to China, you should avoid this period as the Chinese population makes time to visit the most touristic places and take trips around the country. The roads get full of traffic, the hotels overbooked; the touristic places crowded and domestic fares get more expensive, so travelers should wait to book domestic fares after this period. If this is the only time you have to explore China’s main attractions, you should get your trip ideas and destinations planned well ahead.
October is the best time to visit the Great Wall in Beijing. Seeing as the tourist season in this city is in full swing, it is advisable to book airfare and accommodation in advance to avoid inconvenience.
Useful Information
Capital city: Beijing.
Renminbi Currency: (Yuan) (RMB ¥).
Official language: Mandarin.
Government People’s Congress, single party (Chinese Communist Party).
Religion: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Christianity.
UTC time zone +8: 00.
Major cities: Nanjing (Nanjing), Hong Kong, Beijing (Beijing), Shanghai (Shanghai), Guangzhou (Guangzhou) and Tianjin (Tientsin).
