Best Time to Visit Shangqiu

Spring: March to May

Spring is when Shangqiu works best. March is cool, with highs of 17°C, so you'll want a jacket in the morning. By April it's warm and easy, and May gets properly hot without the heavy damp of summer.

This is the time for walking around the old city. Shangqiu is an ancient capital of the Shang people, and the Ancient City of Shangqiu, with its walls and moat, is nice to stroll in mild weather. You can also visit the Zhuang Zhou (Zhuangzi) sites and the tomb-park area linked to the Han dynasty kings at nearby Mangdang Mountain. April and May are also good for day trips by car or train.

Summer: June to August

Summer is hot, then wet. June reaches 34°C and has the highest highs of the year, though it's still fairly dry. July is the wettest month, with 218 mm of rain on 16 days, and August isn't far behind. Both are rated Poor.

Expect sticky afternoons and sudden downpours that can flood streets. If you must come now, stick to indoor stops like museums and long meals of local noodles and Henan-style soups. June is the easiest of the three, as long as you can handle the heat.

Autumn: September to November

Autumn is our other top season. September is still warm and a bit damp, but it's rated Excellent. October is the sweet spot, with highs of 23°C, little rain and the sunniest days of the year at 5.5 hours a day, tied with November.

This is the best time for cycling along the city lanes and for spending whole days outdoors. November turns crisp, with chilly evenings, but it stays dry and calm.

Winter and crowds

December to February is cold and dry. Nights drop below freezing, and January has highs of just 6°C. It's rated Fair, so it suits you if you like quiet streets and don't mind a thick coat.

Shangqiu isn't a big tourist stop, so crowds are rarely a problem. The busiest times are around Chinese New Year, usually in late January or February, when families travel home and many local shops close for a few days. The same goes for the National Day holiday in early October, when roads and trains fill up. If you want the calmest trip, pick late April or mid-November.