Best Time to Visit Yiwu

Autumn is the sweet spot

October is the month to aim for. It's the driest of the year, with only 8 rainy days, and the afternoons are warm without being sticky. November is nearly as good, with cooler air that suits long walks. Both months are rated Excellent. December is also dry, but nights drop close to freezing.

Yiwu is a trading city, so your day is mostly spent indoors anyway. The big draw is the International Trade City, a huge complex of wholesale shops selling everything from toys to Christmas decorations. In autumn you can walk between the Futian Market buildings and the older streets without sweating through your shirt. If you want a break from shopping, the Yiwu River park paths are pleasant then.

Spring: mild, then wet

April is a good month. Days are warm, nights are cool, and it rains on about half the days. March is cooler and greyer. Expect drizzle that never quite stops, and a lot of cloud.

Business visitors tend to come in spring and autumn. The Yiwu Fair, a big commodity expo, has traditionally run in the autumn, usually around October. I can't give you this year's dates, so check them before you book a hotel. When the fair is on, rooms fill up and prices rise. If you're not going for the fair, it's worth avoiding those dates.

Summer: hot and soggy

From May to September, the weather is hard work. June is the wettest month, with rain on 19 days and very little sun. This is the plum rain season, when the whole Yangtze region gets long spells of damp weather. July and August are hotter, with lows of 24°C, so nights give no relief. Humidity stays above 80% all summer.

Summer is the quiet season for leisure travel, and that's about all it has going for it. If you must come, plan your walking for the morning, and keep your afternoons for the air-conditioned market halls.

Winter: cold and damp

January and February are chilly, with lows between 0 and 2°C. Homes and hotels here often have limited heating, so cold rooms can feel worse than the number suggests. Rain is lighter than in spring, but the sky stays grey.

Chinese New Year falls in January or February, and it changes everything. Many shops and factories shut for a week or more, and the trade city goes quiet. If you're coming to buy, avoid it. If you want to see how the city celebrates, go in with that in mind.