China Travel in February

China Travel in February will introduce the China weather in February, what to pack for China travel in February and best places to visit in February. February is the last month of winter in China and the temperature rises slightly. However, it is still very cold in north China, where tourists can enjoy the snow scenery. In central and south China, the weather is slightly warmer than January, but it still feels damp and cold. Signs of spring appear in the south at the end of February, such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen. In addition, Spring Festival, China’s biggest festival, is usually in early February. You can experience Chinese traditional customs and enjoy celebrations.

China Weather in February

Although it is not as cold as January, February is still quite cold in China, which does not prevent the Chinese people from celebrating their annual Spring Festival, and a number of other festive events and parties. However, depending on where you go, the weather in February will be slightly different. Although the north is cold and dry, the weather in central China will be slightly warmer but humid, while in south China, it may be very warm.

China Weather in February By Region & What to Pack

Because China is a vast country, stretching from the far north to the south China sea, the weather in February may be very different, depending on where you are going to travel.

North China in February

  • Representative Cities: Beijing, Xian, Harbin, Changchun, Jinan, Shenyang, Tianjin
  • Weather Feature: There is occasional snowfall in February, but due to dry weather in North China, the total amount of snowfall is very little. Beijing usually has temperatures above freezing during the daytime and drops at night. The average temperature of Beijing is about -5-5℃ in February, with 1-2 days of light rain/snow. Xi ‘an is similar. Besides, northeast China, including Harbin, is still below freezing.
  • What to Pack: In a northern city like Beijing, in February, it can be very cold during the daytime and fall below zero at night. Besides wearing sweaters, trousers, scarves, gloves and warm hats, you also need thermal underwear, a fleece, windproof jackets or down jackets.

East China in February

  • Representative Cities: Shanghai, Huangshan, Nanjing, Hangzhou
  • Weather Feature: In February, windy and humid weather will make people stay indoors, and most tourists will go to other tourist destinations. However, the temperature in February in the eastern region is slightly higher than that in January, with the average temperature above zero. Take Shanghai as an example, the average temperature of Shanghai in February is about 2-9℃, with usually 7-8 days of rain and snow.
  • What to Pack: Jeans, boots, sweaters and rainproof/windproof jackets should be enough to keep warm. If you’re afraid of cold, down jacket may be better. In addition, you need to bring an umbrella and waterproof shoes.

Central China in February

  • Representative Cities: Hefei, Wuhan, Changsha, Nanchang
  • Weather Feature: It sometimes snows in the central region of February, even in the central area south of the Yangtze River. High humidity and lack of heating make it feel even colder than Beijing.
  • What to Pack: Bring winter coat, warm layers and warm shoes. If the heating is not enough, you may need to wear a coat indoors.

South China in February

  • Representative Cities: Guilin, Guangzhou, Sanya, Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen
  • Weather Feature: Winter weather in February in south China is usually pleasant. Although Guilin never freezes, tourists may feel cold due to high humidity and rainy days. The average temperature in February is 8-14℃ in Guilin, 13-20℃ in Guangzhou and 13-18℃ in Hong Kong, which makes your time outdoors more enjoyable than the hot and humid summer days. 
  • What to Pack: In a southern city like Guangzhou, the weather will be cool and rainy, but not as cold as in northern and central China. Long sleeves and trousers, as well as rainproof/windproof jackets, should be sufficient to keep you comfortable during your stay.

West China in February

  • Representative Cities: Chengdu, Kunming, Lhasa, Chongqing
  • Weather Feature: Most parts of west China are not suitable for travelling in winter. February is not a good time to travel on the Silk Road because it is too cold. Tibet is very cold and has low oxygen content. It is usually closed to foreigners during the Tibetan New Year. But west Yunnan is more comfortable than the far west. In February, the daily average temperature in Lijiang is about 3-15°C. 
  • What to Pack: It is suggested to dress in layers when you are west China in February. Take your winter coat, down jacket, gloves, and a hat when travelling in Shangri-la and snow mountain areas.

China Weather and Climate in February by Cities

Best Places to Visit in February

In most parts of China, February is the last month of winter. It is a good time to enjoy rape flowers and plum blossom in a warm place. At the same time, Spring Festival or Chinese New Year is more likely to fall in February, when China will be full of happiness and grand celebrations.

Beijing

Except during the Spring Festival, February is a quiet time to travel to Beijing. You can enjoy a less crowded trip, especially in the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall, which are crowded during peak seasons. If you travel during the Spring Festival, you can stroll through temple fairs full of snacks, commodities and folk performances to experience a strong Spring Festival atmosphere. Popular temple fairs in Beijing include Changdian Temple Fair, Baiyun Temple Temple Fair, etc. 

Temple Fairs in Beijing

Read More: Beijing Festivals and Events

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Pingyao

Pingyao ancient city is one of the best tourist attractions in China in February. During the Spring Festival, a series of folk celebrations will be held there. You can enjoy a feast of music, dance, acrobatics, kung fu, opera and handicrafts, all of which are performed in traditional ways. In addition, you can walk on the city wall, overlook the ancient folk houses and feel the historical atmosphere of the ancient city.

Harbin

Harbin is the northernmost city in China, close to Russia. There you can see many Russian-style buildings, such as St Sofia Church. In winter, Harbin is always an ideal tourist destination. Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival will last until the end of February. In February in Harbin, you can enjoy the colorful world of ice sculpture and experience various ice games. Harbin is also a good place for skiing. If you are interested in skiing, you can go to Yabuli Ski Resort, Erlongshan Ski Resort and Jihua Ski Resort.

Yunnan

Yunnan is sunny and is one of the first choice places for China to travel in February. You can take a leisurely walk in the Lijiang Ancient Town, take a boat on Lugu Lake, or enjoy the rape flowers blooming everywhere in Luoping. Yunnan is also home to various ethnic groups in China. There, you can experience different ways to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Rape Flowers in Luoping

Yunnan in February is cool, and February is an ideal month to appreciate Luoping rape flowers. The rape flowers cover more than 100 square kilometers in Luoping. During the period from February to March when rape flowers are in full bloom, Luoping will hold the annual Rape Flower Festival, and many tourists and photographers will come to photograph the sea of the yellow flowers. Late February is the best time to appreciate this natural wonder.

Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

Yuanyang is a county in southern Yunnan, located on the southern bank of the Red River. Yuanyang is famous for Hani culture and Hani rice terraces. Yuanyang Hani rice terrace is one of the world’s top terraced fields, famous for its magnificent scenery and vast area. When the sun rises, the fields will be immersed in fog, which is a fairyland on the ground. When the sun sets, all the land is covered with golden silk, which is more like a master’s masterpiece. The best time to visit Hani rice terraces is from December to March, during the irrigation time.

Main Hani Rice Terraces in Yuanyang

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Suzhou

Suzhou is famous for its classical gardens. The charming garden attracts many tourists to watch their exquisite design and layout. If you want to experience a picturesque ancient China, the nearby water towns are worth visiting. February is the best time to admire plum blossom, while Suzhou is the best place to appreciate plum blossom. It is said that plum blossoms represent the indomitable spirit of Chinese culture. This is a popular theme of Chinese painters. 

Top Attractions in Suzhou

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Hainan

Hainan is the ideal choice if you want to stay away from the cold in winter in China. It is the warmest place in February in China. You can have fun on the beach in Yalong Bay, known as “Oriental Hawaii”, take photos in Dongzhaigang Mangrove Forest, walk in Tianya Haijiao Scenic Spot, and buy duty-free goods.

Guangzhou

During the Spring Festival, Guangzhou will have a wonderful performance- lion dance and dragon dance. Actors wear lion or dragon clothes, jumping up and down, showing different expressions and movements. In February, there will be many flower fairs in Guangzhou to welcome the arrival of spring. You can appreciate all kinds of flowers, including daffodil, kumquat, peach blossom, camellia, vanilla, monthly rose, bauhinia, platycodon grandiflorum, etc.

Shanghai

During the Spring Festival, there are many interesting activities in Shanghai. You can watch fireworks, visit temple fairs and taste festival food. During the festival, there are lantern shows and fairs in Yu Garden.

Guilin

Guilin in February is wet and cold, but its natural scenery is still mostly green. You can still have a pleasant trip to visit the city’s mountains and Lijiang River. When you take a boat tour of Lijiang River or climb mountains, remember to wear warm clothes.

February Events in China

Chinese New Year/Spring Festival

The Spring Festival starts on the first day of the first lunar month and lasts for 15 days. Spring Festival is the most ceremonious traditional festival of the Chinese nation with a long history. It not only embodies the Chinese nation’s ideological beliefs, ideal wishes, life entertainment and cultural psychology, but also is a carnival display of blessing, diet and entertainment activities. During the Spring Festival, various activities to celebrate the Spring Festival are held all over the country, with rich regional characteristics and a lively and festive atmosphere. The main contents of these activities are to remove the old and bring forth the new, to worship the gods and ancestors, and to pray for a good harvest. They are rich and colorful in form and embody the essence of Chinese traditional culture. Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival are also called the four traditional festivals in China. The Spring Festival folk custom was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.

Chinese New Year Travel Tips

Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, usually falls in February. During the festival, people will decorate their houses with red lanterns, red couplets and other holiday decorations. 

At the beginning and ending of the festival, transportation is usually not a good experience, because millions of Chinese will go home to celebrate the Spring Festival with their families. Busy travel starts three weeks before the Chinese New Year and lasts about two weeks afterwards. Generally speaking, trains are likely to be fully booked a few days ago and some popular flights may be sold out. And air tickets can be very expensive during the festival. It is better to make arrangements in advance. 

Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival falls on the 15th of the first lunar month every year and is one of China’s traditional festivals. The first lunar month is the January of the Chinese lunar calendar, and the 15th of the first lunar month is the first full moon night of the year. Lantern Festival is one of the traditional festivals of Chinese and overseas Chinese. The Lantern Festival mainly includes a series of traditional folk activities such as watching lantern shows, eating Tangyuan, guessing lantern riddles and setting off fireworks. In addition, many places also added traditional folk performances such as dragon-lantern show, lion dance, walking on stilts, rowing land boats, yangko dance and beating drums. In June 2008, the Lantern Festival was selected as the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage.

Valentine’s Day

Like other parts of the world, Valentine’s Day in China is on February 14, when people eat chocolate, enjoy romance and express their love. However, China also has its own version of this love-centered festival, called Qixi Festival, which falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month.

Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

The Ice and Snow Festival is still held in early February. The ice sculpture and snow sculpture haven’t melted yet. You can have fun in this snowy world.

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