Best Time to Visit Fuzhou

October to December: the sweet spot

This is when Fuzhou is at its easiest. October still feels warm, with highs around 25°C and far less rain than summer. By December it's cool and fairly dry, and you'll want a light jacket in the evenings. November sits between the two, with mild days and only a little rain.

That makes it a good time to walk the old lanes of Sanfang Qixiang (the "Three Lanes and Seven Alleys" district) without getting soaked. You can climb Gushan, the hill east of the city, and wander Xihu Park in comfort. Fuzhou is known for its hot springs, so a cool December night is a good excuse to soak in one.

January to April: cool, grey and damp

Once the good weather ends, winter is mild, never properly cold. January and February still rate Good, though you'll get cloudy skies and a damp chill that feels colder than the numbers suggest. Both months are fairly dry, but from March the rain turns into long drizzly spells, with rain on 16 days in both March and April. That's why those two months only rate Fair.

Chinese New Year usually falls in late January or February, and it's the busiest travel time in China. Many locals head home, and some small restaurants close for days. The Lantern Festival, about two weeks later, lights up Sanfang Qixiang and the Nantai riverfront. If you like festivals more than sunshine, this is your window. Pack an umbrella you don't mind losing.

May to September: hot, wet and sticky

By May the weather turns, and every month through September rates Poor. June is the wettest month and the least comfortable, with 268 mm of rain on 21 days. May and August are almost as wet, with rain on 20 days each. Humidity stays high all summer, so afternoons feel heavy and your clothes never quite dry.

July is the hottest month, at a high of 32°C, and oddly it's also the sunniest of the summer. Rain falls on fewer days, so you'll get more dry hours. Typhoon season runs through late summer and early autumn, and storms can disrupt trains and flights. Check forecasts before you travel, especially if you plan a trip to the coast near Pingtan Island.

The Dragon Boat Festival, in May or June, brings races on the city's rivers and canals. Summer school holidays, from July to August, mean more domestic families at the main sights. Hotels are still easy to find, though, and Fuzhou never gets as packed as Xiamen.

Which month for which trip?

For walking and sightseeing, pick October or November. For festivals, aim for Lantern Festival time. For food, any month works, so try Buddha Jumps Over the Wall (a rich, slow-cooked soup) and fish balls whenever you arrive. If you can only go in summer, choose July and keep your plans flexible.