China in June 2025: Travel Guide to the Shoulder Season
Traveling to China in June is blessed with lush magic peaks, lakes with dreamy colors, caves accompanied by clouds, vast alpine grasslands, mesmerizing seas of summer flowers, and transparent seawater. We will share with you the best places to visit and the best things to do for your China tour in June.
China's Weather in June
China enters early summer in June, with lush trees and warm breezes in most areas. Whether you want to explore grasslands, islands, mountains, lakes, ancient towns, or cities, June is perfect.
Southern China
Southern China is warm in June. The average temperatures in Yunnan, Hunan, and Guizhou are usually 25℃, suitable for climbing mountains, rafting, and exploring ancient towns. Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian are sometimes rainy and windy, so keep an eye on the weather forecast if you want to enjoy the beaches or boating.
Western China
Most of western China enjoys a pleasant climate in June, with an average temperature of about 20°C. The grasslands in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Sichuan are lush, blooming with flowers, perfect for hiking; and the lakes in Qinghai take on richer, more attractive colors under the clearer sky in June.
Northern China
Northern China is generally not cold or hot in June. The average temperatures in Inner Mongolia and Hebei fluctuate between 20 and 25℃, and their grasslands enter the viewing season; some areas are special, such as Beijing, which is prone to high temperatures in June, so it is recommended to take precautions against the heat.
Inner Mongolia
Eastern China
Eastern China in June is mild and humid. The average temperatures in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui are around 25℃, ideal for exploring cities, towns, and islands; Zhejiang, with lots of beautiful islands, is popular in June, while there may be rainy days, so please carry rain gear.
Best Places to Travel in June
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie will take you to Avatar's Pandora, especially travel in June when the mountaintops have become lush. In Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the tall outdoor elevator will take you to the viewing platform above the cliffs, where you'll overlook more than 3,000 sandstone pillars, some of which are over 1,000 meters tall. In Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, the world's longest tunnel escalator will take you to Heaven's Gate, a natural archway at the summit, or you can walk the Stairway to Heaven with 999 steps.
Zhangjiajie
Qinghai
Qinghai is home to a number of globally rare salt lakes, which take on their unique charms in June, including the Chaerhan Salt Lake, flowing like green apple juice to the end of the horizon; the Chaka Salt Lake, reflecting every detail of the sky and boasting trains on the water; the Dong Taijinaier Salt Lake, a glowing emerald that intertwines with fantastical Yadan landscapes; and the Xi Taijinaier Salt Lake, which is half blue and half turquoise, and can be traveled through by car.
Yunnan
With romantic ancient towns, craggy canyons, blooming summer flowers, and magnificent snow-capped mountains, travel to Yunnan in June has multiple temperaments. You can stroll through the Lijiang Old Town, synonymous with romance, listening to the concerto of streams and wind chimes; hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge and watch the roaring river from a close distance; enjoy gentle breeze at the jewel-blue Lugu Lake blooming with the delicate ottelia acuminata; or climb up to the Feilai Temple for a panorama of the Meili Snow Mountains, and if you're lucky, you'll see the mountains turning golden at sunrise.
Black Dragon Pool
Guilin
Guilin harbors Karst wonders sculpted by nature and terrace wonders created by people, and come June you will also see the grand water performance for the Dragon Boat Festival. You can take a cruise at Xingping Town to enjoy the Li River's Karst highlight, which serves as the backdrop for the 20 Yuan Note; try bamboo rafting on the Yulong River, where at night, lighted rafts will form a 500-meter-long golden dragon in celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival; and, in June, time for farming, you can see how villagers work at the unbelievable Longji Rice Terraces.
The Lijiang River
What to Do in June
Cross the Sea of Summer Flowers
The warm, soft winds of June blow across grasslands, islands, mountains, and streams, awakening summer flowers into colorful, fragrant seas.
In the Chinese lavender city of Yili, Xinjiang, a purple sea flowing with the wind mingles with the pink sunlight at dusk, creating a romantic dreamland; in the idyllic mecca of Puzhehei, Yunnan Province, you can take a boat ride through nearly 300 species of pink and white lotus flowers stretching for dozens of miles, enjoying the pleasant aroma; in Sichuan Emutang, lovely flowers of numerous colors are intertwined with meandering rivers on the 5,000 acres of grassland.
Enjoy the Tranquil Islands
With the warm breeze and no crowds on the islands in June, you can enjoy the wide beaches with the sound of leaves and waves.
In Pingtan Island, Fujian Province, you can ride along the Ring Road to enjoy the crystal clear sea and lush mountains, and at night on the beach, you may encounter “blue tears” (marine plankton) gathering into a fluorescent river; in Nan'ao Island, Guangdong Province, located at the Tropic of Cancer, you will fall in love with the soft sandy beaches and countless delicious seafood; and in Dongji Island, Zhejiang Province, you can witness the first rays of dawn coming out from where the sea and sky meet, covering the 28 islands floating in the sea with a golden halo.
Stroll Through the Vast Grasslands
Walking in natural scenery away from the hustle and bustle is always relaxing, and the vast grasslands that become verdant in June will sweep away all your worries.
In the Hulunbuir Prairie, Inner Mongolia, you can stroll along the Morigele River and share the endless grasslands with herds of leisurely grazing cows and sheep; in the alpine grassland of Nalati in Xinjiang, you can hike, ride a horse, or take a helicopter to enjoy the boundless verdure and the rolling mountains around; and the Mulan Weichang, an ancient royal hunting ground in Hebei province, boasts not only endless grasslands, but also dense forests, winding rivers, and wetlands that harbor numerous endangered birds.
Events & Festivals
Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated across China every June (May 5th on the lunar calendar), when people eat zongzi (rice dumplings), race dragon boats, wear scented sachets and hang mugwort.
In Hunan, Guangdong, and Guizhou you can watch grand dragon boat races, with dozens of teams from all over China taking part in each race; in Guilin, rafts will form a luminous dragon of more than 500 meters on the Yulong River at night. You can also taste the sticky rice dumplings with a variety of fillings, including red bean paste, pork, salted egg yolks, mushrooms, and seafood.
Rice Dumplings
Crowds & Costs
Travel crowds are generally low in June, the shoulder season with hotels, flights, and scenic area tickets remaining at regular prices, except for the 3-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday.
Popular destinations such as Zhangjiajie, Lijiang Old Town, and Guilin, might be a bit crowded, and if you want to travel to Hunan, Guangdong, and Guizhou to watch the Grand Dragon boat races, it is always recommended to book hotels and tickets as early as possible. In regions with vaster natural landscapes such as Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, Tibet, and Xinjiang, you can always enjoy a quiet atmosphere.
China Travel Tips in June
Prepare Sunscreen Items
The sunshine is abundant in June, so please take sunscreen measures especially if you are traveling to the high-altitude areas in Qinghai, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Sichuan, as well as on the islands. Please bring sunscreen, sun hats, sunglasses, and silk scarves to protect your skin and eyes.
Stay Hydrated
Although June is early summer and the overall temperature is not too high, it occasionally warms up suddenly, and even in the north, the maximum temperature sometimes reaches over 30℃. Please keep hydrated when traveling in June and it is recommended to carry medication to prevent heatstroke.
Enjoy Islands in the First Half of June
If you plan to travel to the southern and eastern regions, such as Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, and Zhejiang to enjoy the seas and rivers, it is recommended to go in the first half of June, with clear, calm waters; in the second half of June rain usually increases and winds can be strong in these areas.
Travelling to China in June? Check Out These Great Itineraries
Golden Triangle with Avatar Mountains - 10 Days. Marvel at Shanghai's skyscrapers, explore Xitang's canals, be awestruck by Zhangjiajie's Avatar mountains, uncover Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors, learn Taichi, cycle its ancient city wall, and conclude in Beijing, visiting the Great Wall and Forbidden City.
Highlights of China with Yunnan - 20 Days. Explore Beijing's iconic Great Wall and Forbidden City, delve into history with Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors, marvel at Yunnan's Stone Forest and rice terraces as well as discover its ancient towns, enjoy Li River's scenic beauty, and appreciate Shanghai's cultural fusion along the Bund.
Real Taste of China: Food & Culture - 14 Days. Indulge in Peking Duck after exploring the Great Wall, savor wheat-based cuisine after admiring the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, challenge your taste buds with spicy hot pot in Chengdu home to giant pandas, and immerse in tea culture in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
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