What with the extreme temperatures over most of China, it doesn’t really make sense to visit the country during the summer or the winter- in most parts of the country it’ll be sweltering, or miserably cold. It’s better to go in spring (March and April) or autumn (September and October), when, although nights can be quite chilly, the days are usually pleasant. Go armed with umbrellas or raincoats, though: rain is a frequent occurrence at this time.

You may want to avoid China during major public holidays- especially the Chinese New Year (January-February), when getting transport and accommodation can be a real problem.