Best Time to Visit Jinjiang

Autumn and winter: the best stretch

From October to January, Jinjiang is at its easiest. October is the driest month and also one of the sunniest, with warm days and only about six rainy days. By December and January the highs sit in the high teens. That's cool enough for a light jacket in the evening, but never properly cold.

This is the time to walk around Anhai, the old port town, and see Anping Bridge, a stone bridge from the Song dynasty. You can also wander the old lanes of nearby Quanzhou, which is a short drive away. Lingshan and Jinjiang's coast are comfortable for long walks. Eat oyster omelettes and street noodles without sweating through them.

February to April: damp and grey

Rain creeps up from February. By March you get rain on about every other day, and April is worse. Skies stay cloudy, with under four hours of sun a day. It feels clammy rather than stormy.

February is still rated Excellent, though. Chinese New Year usually lands in late January or February, and Fujian families return home. Expect closed shops and busy trains, but also firecrackers and temple visits. The Lantern Festival, about two weeks later, is a good night to be in Quanzhou. In spring, Mazu's birthday falls around the third lunar month, and Fujian's coastal temples hold processions for the sea goddess. Pick the dates with a lunar calendar.

May to September: hot, wet and typhoon-prone

This is the hard part of the year. June is the wettest month, with rain on 22 days and humidity near 90%. July and August are the hottest, both with highs of 31°C and lows of 26°C. Nights give you no relief.

July is a bit of a surprise, with fewer rainy days and the most sun of the year. But showers can still arrive fast, and typhoon season runs through late summer and early autumn. Flights and ferries can be cancelled, so keep your plans loose.

If you hate crowds, summer is quiet for foreign visitors. Chinese families do travel during school holidays in July and August, though, so beach spots can fill up. Travelling with kids? Go in October, when the heat has eased but the sea is still warm. If you're coming for a shorter city break, aim for November. You'll get mild days, fewer showers and no holiday crush.