Best Time to Visit Huainan

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

March to May and October to November are the months to aim for. April and October score best. Days are mild, around 23°C, and nights are cool enough for a light jacket. March is fresh, and by May it's already warm.

Huainan is a coal and tofu city, so a lot of your time will go to food and short day trips. Spring suits a walk around Bagongshan, the hill park where the Tofu Culture Festival has been held, and the old story of tofu's origins is told here. Huainan beef soup, a peppery noodle dish, tastes best on a cool morning. Autumn is just as good, with clearer skies and more sun, about 5 hours a day.

Summer: hot, wet and sticky

June to August is hard going. Highs sit at 32 to 33°C, and nights stay warm. July is the wettest month by far, with rain on 18 days and humidity around 80%. June is the start of the plum rain season, when the Yangtze region gets long spells of damp weather.

If you hate sticky afternoons, skip these months. If you can't, plan indoor stops and short outings between showers. Huainan isn't a big tourist draw, so you won't fight crowds. The main pressure comes from Chinese school holidays in July and August, when families travel more, mainly to famous mountains and lakes.

Winter: cold, dry and quiet

December and January are chilly, with lows just below freezing. December is the driest month, with rain on only 4 days. Winter is Fair at best. It's grey and cold, but you'll have sights to yourself and bowls of hot soup taste better.

February is a little milder, and Chinese New Year usually falls in late January or February. Many shops and restaurants close for several days, and trains and roads fill up as people head home. Avoid travelling in the days right around it. Pick the week after, when the city comes back to life.

When to go

For most trips, choose April or October. Pick November if you like quiet and cool air. Choose March or May if you want spring but can handle a bit more rain. Skip July unless you have no other choice.