China

China Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in China in May.

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Beijing Shanghai Guangzhou Qingdao

Planning a getaway to China this May and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in China in May

In May, China experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from cold to very warm and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to heavy.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is cold in Bomi at 6°C (43°F) and very warm in Chengmai at 34°C (93°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 25°C (77°F) in Chengmai and -1°C (30°F) in Bomi. The temperatures mentioned for both day and night are typical averages. However some days might get even hotter. It's best to stay prepared by wearing cloths suitable for the warmth.

For specific regional insights in China, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no rainfall in Ejin with an average of 3.2 mm (0.1 in) to heavy rainfall in Heping with 467 mm (18 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is generally plentiful throughout many areas. Beijing enjoys about 270 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore China by month

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Best Places to Visit in China in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across China.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in China

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in China?

Temperature range in China (May)

Precipitation variation in China (May)

Beijing

In May Beijing generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
30°C (86°F)
33°C (91°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
15°C (59°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
270 hours
220 hours
Monthly rainfall
22 mm (0.9 in)
38 mm (1.5 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
6 days
9 days
Weather conditions
perfect
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Beijing →

Shanghai

In May Shanghai generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
25°C (77°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
18°C (64°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
151 hours
168 hours
131 hours
Monthly rainfall
106 mm (4.2 in)
126 mm (5 in)
279 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
15 days
15 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
poor
Climate in Shanghai →

Guangzhou

In May Guangzhou generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
31°C (88°F)
33°C (91°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
24°C (75°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly sun hours
66 hours
106 hours
140 hours
Monthly rainfall
227 mm (8.9 in)
316 mm (12 in)
388 mm (15 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
18 days
19 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Guangzhou →

Chengdu

In May Chengdu generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
28°C (82°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
19°C (66°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
115 hours
123 hours
117 hours
Monthly rainfall
55 mm (2.2 in)
75 mm (3 in)
147 mm (5.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
16 days
17 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
tolerable
Climate in Chengdu →

Xi'an

In May Xi'an generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
29°C (84°F)
33°C (91°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
16°C (61°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
143 hours
168 hours
180 hours
Monthly rainfall
47 mm (1.9 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
10 days
8 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Xi'an →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in China.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in China in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Beijing 30°C (86°F) 15°C (59°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Shanghai 25°C (77°F) 18°C (64°F) 126 mm (5 in)
Guangzhou 31°C (88°F) 24°C (75°F) 316 mm (12 in)
Qingdao 20°C (68°F) 14°C (57°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Lijiang 23°C (73°F) 11°C (52°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Sanya 31°C (88°F) 26°C (79°F) 152 mm (6 in)

China weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in China in May?

China typically experiences tolerable weather in May, part of the season. Daytime highs in Beijing average around 30°C (86°F), and temperatures drop to about 15°C (59°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in China in May?

In Beijing, the average daytime high in May is 30°C (86°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 15°C (59°F).

Does China get a lot of rain in May?

Rain is generally moderate to light in China during May, with Beijing averaging close to 38 mm (1.5 in).

Is May a Good Time to Visit China?

In our opinion, May is a good time to visit China with overall pleasant weather in Beijing. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in April, September and October offering mostly perfect weather in Beijing. The weather in January and July, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in China.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to China? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in China.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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