Best Time to Visit Zhengzhou

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

Spring runs from March to May, and autumn from September to November. Our data rates all of these months Excellent, though March, April and October score best. March is cool and fresh, and it warms fast. April is mild and easy for walking. By May it's properly warm, with more rain days.

Autumn is just as good. October is dry and comfortable, and November turns crisp but stays bright. September is still a bit muggy, with more showers.

These are the months for the city's big sights. You can spend a whole day at the Henan Museum without feeling cooped up, then walk out to the Yellow River scenic area north of town. The Shaolin Temple and the Longmen Grottoes (in nearby Luoyang) are both day trips, and they're far more pleasant in mild weather.

Summer: hot, then soaked

June is hot, with highs of 35°C and not much rain. July is the same heat, but wetter and stickier. It's also the wettest month, with 182 mm over 14 days. August is close behind. Storms can be heavy, so keep your plans flexible and use the metro, which is handy for dodging downpours.

Summer is also the cheapest and, in some ways, the busiest time. Chinese school holidays run through July and August, so Shaolin and other big attractions fill with families. If you're coming then, go for the early opening hours, or pick indoor stops like the museum.

Winter: cold, dry and quiet

December and January are the coldest months, with lows around -4°C in January. It's dry, though, and the sun shows up more than in many other months. Winter is low season for foreign visitors, so you'll have temples and galleries to yourself. Pack a proper coat. Then warm up with a bowl of hu la tang (a peppery Henan soup) or hand-pulled noodles.

The big exception is Chinese New Year, which falls in late January or February. Trains and roads get packed as people head home, and some restaurants close for several days. Things feel festive, but services can be patchy.

For a first trip, aim for April or October. Want fewer people and don't mind a chill? Try early March or November. Avoid July if you can.