Best Time to Visit Nanjing

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

March to May and October to November are when Nanjing is at its best. April and October top our comfort score, and March, May and November also rate Excellent. Days are mild, rain is light, and you can walk all day.

Spring suits city walking. You can follow the old Ming city wall, stroll around Xuanwu Lake, and climb Purple Mountain to reach the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. Plum blossom around the Ming Xiaoling Tomb comes early, in late February or March. Cherry blossom at Jiming Temple follows in late March or early April. Both draw weekend crowds, so go on a weekday if you can.

Autumn is calmer and sunnier. October has the most sun of the year, with 5.3 hours a day. Ginkgo trees along the Purple Mountain roads and Qixia Mountain's red maple leaves turn gold and red from late October into November. Qixia gets busy then, so expect queues.

Summer: hot, wet and sticky

June to August is the tough stretch. Nanjing is one of China's famously hot "furnace cities", and July and August tie for the hottest at 32°C, with warm nights of 25°C. July is also the wettest month, with rain on 17 days. June brings the plum rains, a long damp spell of grey skies and drizzle.

Humidity makes afternoons feel heavy. If you come anyway, plan your day around indoor stops. The Nanjing Museum and the Presidential Palace are good choices, and you can save the Confucius Temple area (Fuzimiao) for the evening, when its lanterns come on and the air cools a little. Try duck blood soup or salted duck at a local restaurant. Summer is also when Chinese families travel during school holidays, so big sights get busier.

Winter: cold, grey and quiet

December to February is chilly and often damp. January is the coldest month, with lows of -2°C, and it's colder than many visitors expect because buildings are often poorly heated. Sun is limited, and you'll get grey days. Still, this is the quietest season, and the sights feel more personal.

Winter works for museums, hot pots and long tea breaks. The Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre is a sobering visit in any season, and it's easier to take in without crowds. Chinese New Year falls in January or February and shuts many small shops for several days, though the Fuzimiao lantern fair is a highlight.

If you're choosing one month, pick April or October. Want fewer people? Go in November, after the autumn colour crowds thin but before the cold sets in.