China in November
November is one of the easiest months to travel in China. There's no week-long national holiday, the summer crowds are long gone, and autumn color moves south into the Yangtze delta, Huangshan and western Yunnan. South China finally becomes comfortable for walking. The trade-offs are cold northern nights, shorter days and a few business events that can double hotel prices in one city for a week.
The months ahead also matter: in the far north, ski resorts and ice festivals are getting ready for winter.
Photo: Windmemories · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
November weather by city
| City | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 11 °C (51 °F) | 0 °C (33 °F) | 15 mm | 3 |
| Xi'an | 13 °C (55 °F) | 3 °C (37 °F) | 28 mm | 6 |
| Shanghai | 18 °C (64 °F) | 11 °C (53 °F) | 61 mm | 9 |
| Chengdu | 17 °C (62 °F) | 10 °C (50 °F) | 16 mm | 8 |
| Guangzhou | 25 °C (78 °F) | 17 °C (62 °F) | 37 mm | 6 |
| Kunming | 19 °C (66 °F) | 8 °C (47 °F) | 30 mm | 5 |
| Harbin | 0 °C (32 °F) | -9 °C (16 °F) | 14 mm | 6 |
| Lhasa | 13 °C (56 °F) | -2 °C (28 °F) | 1 mm | 1 |
How it feels on the ground:
- Beijing and Xi'an: These are dry and crisp, with sunny days and nights around freezing by the end of the month. Northern cities switch on district heating in mid-November (Beijing's official heating season starts on 15 November), so indoors is warm.
- Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nanjing: Expect 15–18 °C afternoons and some drizzle. Indoor heating is rare south of the Yangtze, so damp 10 °C evenings feel colder than the number suggests. Pack a warm layer for indoors as well as outdoors.
- Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong: Days run around 25 °C with low humidity and only about six wet days. This is the start of the most pleasant season in the south.
- Kunming and Tengchong: Clear and dry, with a big swing from cool mornings to warm middays.
- Harbin: Winter has arrived, with the first lasting snow and daytime highs near freezing.
- Lhasa: Clear skies and almost no rain, but nights are below freezing.
Where to go in November
Nanjing: red maples and golden avenues
Nanjing's autumn peaks from mid-November to early December. The red maples at Qixia Mountain (栖霞山) and the gold-leaved trees along the Stone Elephant Road (石象路) at Ming Xiaoling are the classic pair. Visit Qixia on a weekday morning, since weekend lines for the shuttle and temple can be long. Put Ming Xiaoling and the Purple Mountain sites together on another day. The Nanjing 3-day itinerary already groups them.
Hangzhou: the late-season valleys
Hangzhou peaks later than most visitors expect. The maples and streams of Jiuxi Misty Forest (九溪烟树) turn from late November into mid-December. Zhinan Village (指南村) in Lin'an, a village of old ginkgo and maple trees, turns from early to late November. On weekdays the West Lake shore is quiet enough to walk the full Su Causeway. Use the Hangzhou 3-day route as the base and add Jiuxi on the last morning.
Tengchong: ginkgo villages and hot springs
In the far west of Yunnan, the ginkgo village of Jiangdong (江东银杏村) turns gold from mid-November to early December. Domestic travelers treat it as the year's most photogenic autumn scene. Combine it with the old town of Heshun, the Rehai geothermal park and the WWII memorials in Tengchong. Base yourself in one hotel for three or four nights, because the sights sit in separate directions. The Tengchong 4-day itinerary covers the core.
Photo: Kcx36 · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Huangshan and Hongcun: color with half the crowds
From mid-November to early December, the villages around Huangshan combine autumn trees, morning mist over Hongcun's South Lake and far fewer visitors than in October. On the mountain, sunrise is later and colder, so overnighting on the summit is more comfortable in a heated hotel room. The Huangshan, Chengkan and Hongcun 3-day route works well this month.
Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong: the south's best season opens
Lower humidity makes November the start of Hong Kong's hiking season, and the best month for Guangzhou's food streets. The Greater Bay Area 10-day route is at its most comfortable now. Check the Canton Fair dates below before you fix Guangzhou nights.
Sanya and Xishuangbanna: warm, before the winter peak
Hainan's dry season begins in November. Sea temperatures are still warm, but room rates have not yet reached their late-December and Spring Festival levels. Xishuangbanna has short-sleeve days and cool evenings. Both make a good final stop on a long autumn trip.
Also good now
Xiamen sits around 25 °C after its summer crowds, and the Longji terraces near Guilin hold the last harvested gold in early November.
Chongli's ski resorts open one after another, and Wanlong opened on 23 October in 2026. Early-season terrain is limited, so read the Chongli resort guide before you buy passes.
In season in November
| What | Where | When | How to do it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male hairy crabs | Yangcheng Lake; restaurants in Shanghai and Suzhou | November and December | Males now have the rich white "paste." Many restaurants serve one male and one female together so you can compare |
| Ancient ginkgo | Jiangdong village, Tengchong (about ¥30); the 1,400-year-old ginkgo at Gu Guanyin Temple in the Zhongnan Mountains outside Xi'an; the 12.5 km ginkgo avenue at Baduqie, Changxing (Zhejiang) | Xi'an's tree usually peaks in early to mid-November; Changxing and Tengchong from mid-November into early December | Go on a weekday morning. Gu Guanyin Temple applies traffic and visitor controls at peak |
| Huizhou autumn villages | Tachuan, near Hongcun (about ¥32 online); Shicheng, Wuyuan (¥60) | Tachuan's tallow trees about 1–20 November; Shicheng's maples from mid-November to early December | Tachuan is only about 2 km from Hongcun, so pair them. Stay overnight in Shicheng for the dawn mist under the maples |
| Black-headed gulls arrive | Kunming | From November | See January |
The classic route in November
| Stop | November conditions | What to change |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing and the Great Wall | Crisp and clear, with sunsets near 17:00. District heating starts on 15 November | Put the Great Wall first and museums last in each day |
| Xi'an | Cool and dry, with the ginkgo season in the Zhongnan foothills | Add a half day for Gu Guanyin Temple in early November, on a weekday |
| Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou | Late color in Hangzhou's Jiuxi valley, and the CIIE expo filling west Shanghai hotels on 5–10 November | Stay in central Shanghai during the expo and leave Hangzhou until late in the month |
| Chengdu pandas | Winter hours start on 1 November: entry from 08:00 | Cool weather keeps pandas outdoors for more of the day, so the timing is less critical than in summer |
| Guilin and Yangshuo | Longji is harvested and the dry season begins | Expect quieter rivers and lower water. Mist on the Li River is a matter of luck, not timing |
| Zhangjiajie | Cool and often clear, with far fewer visitors | One of the most comfortable months. Pack warm layers for the plateau |
Events that change prices in November
| Dates | Event | Effect on travelers |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct – 4 Nov 2026 | Canton Fair, phase 3 (Guangzhou, Pazhou) | Hotel prices near Pazhou and the metro lines to it jump; book Guangzhou elsewhere or stay in Foshan |
| 5–10 Nov 2026 | China International Import Expo (Shanghai, National Exhibition and Convention Center in Qingpu) | West Shanghai and Hongqiao hotels fill; central Shanghai is less affected |
| 11 Nov | "Singles' Day" shopping festival | No effect on sightseeing; parcel deliveries slow down for a week |
| Mid-November | Heating season starts in northern cities | Indoor comfort improves in Beijing, Xi'an and Harbin |
| Late November | Harbin's Ice and Snow World construction begins (it started on 25 November in 2025) | The park is not open yet; see December |
The Zhuhai Airshow, traditionally held in November, moved to 7–13 December for its 2026 edition. If you are visiting Zhuhai or Macau in early December, check hotel availability early.
Mainland China has no public holiday in November, and the next is New Year's Day.
Seasonal hours, closures and prices
- Chengdu panda base: Winter hours from 1 November: morning entry 08:00–12:00, afternoon entry 12:00–16:30, clearing at 17:30.
- Jiuzhaigou: Low season starts on 16 November, with admission falling to ¥80 (¥190 in peak). Most reports put the bus at ¥80.
- Huangshan: Winter admission of ¥150 starts on 1 December.
- Changbai Mountain: Winter hours of 08:30–15:00 on the north and west slopes; the south slope is closed.
- Longji: The terraces are harvested. Village stays are quiet and cheaper, and buses run less often.
Booking and practical advice
- Rooms: November is a value month outside the trade-fair weeks. Weekday rooms in Hangzhou, Huangshan and Nanjing are noticeably cheaper than weekends during the foliage peak, so move your foliage day to a Tuesday–Thursday if you can.
- Trains: Tickets open 15 days ahead. There is no holiday rush, but Friday-evening trains out of Shanghai toward Huangshan and Hangzhou still sell out. Book trains on Trip.com.
- Foliage: Color moves by elevation and by individual tree. Check recent local photos for your exact site a few days ahead, and choose a base that is worth visiting even if the leaves are early or late.
- Shorter days: Beijing's sunset is around 17:00 by late November, and in Harbin it comes before 16:00. Put outdoor sites first and museums last.
- High-altitude closures: Some mountain buses, boats and shows reduce their timetables after October. Check the current timetable for Jiuzhaigou, the Tibetan plateau and northern scenic areas.
Two November routes
Seven days of foliage and food: Shanghai 2 nights → Nanjing 2 → Hangzhou 3, finishing with Jiuxi in late November. Every leg is a high-speed train of about 1–2 hours.
Ten days, warm and green: Guangzhou 3 nights → Shenzhen 2 → Hong Kong 3 → Macau 2. This works well after 4 November, once the Canton Fair has finished. Keep one full day for the border crossings; see the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong route.
For more color timing, see the China autumn foliage guide.