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Plan your Beijing tour in May? May is one of the best months to visit Beijing weather-wise, a transit month between short spring and long summer in Beijing.

It is neither hot nor cold with average high 25 ℃ and low 15 ℃.  So it very comfortable in May. The day and night temperature difference in May is still big, but basically a T-shirt and a light jacket is enough to come with the weather.

May is a peak tourist season in Beijing and other parts of China as well. You are requested to book your hotel and transportation well in advance.

The 3-day of Labor’s Day from May 01 to May 03
Avoid visiting Beijing in the 3-day of Labor’s Day from May 01 to May 03, a 3-day holiday in China. All the tourist sites will be packed with domestic tourists and the hotel rates will increase sharply.

May is the right time to go hiking on the Great Wall around Beijing with green mountains and comfortable weather. See our Great Wall Tours.

Beside Great Wall hiking, you may have excursions in the outskirts of Beijing to enjoy the natural beauty around Beijing.  See our Beijing Walking Tour, Beijing Bike Tour and Beijing Hiking Tour.

Historical Climate Data for May in Beijing
This past 50-year historical weather data is quite useful for you to plan your trip to Beijing well in advance.  You may use the data to decide what to wear on your coming trip to Beijing.

By the way you may also check our Beijing May Realtime Weather Photos for more information on the Beijing weather in May.

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May Events, Holidays & Festivals

May is one of the best months to visit Beijing weather-wise, a transit month between short spring and long summer in Beijing. It is neither hot nor cold with average high 25 ℃ and low 15 ℃.

So it very comfortable in May. The day and night temperature difference in May is still big, but basically a T-shirt and a light jacket is enough to come with the weather.

Public Holidays
1) International Labor Day ( May 1-3)
The second important holiday just after the Chinese New Year’s Day. Employees will enjoy a one-day paid day-off. Celebration parties in parks take the place of parades today.

Chinese government makes it a 3 day holiday by moving the prior weekend and the upcoming one together. This is the Chinese government’s “holiday economy” policy. Avoid visiting Beijing during the May Day Holiday due to the possible tourist hordes.

2) Youth Day ( May 4 )
May 4th Youth Day is a day in memory of the first mass student movement in 1919. It is a movement triggered by the old Chinese government that gave in to the Japanese government’s attempt to colonize Shandong Province.

It is also an anti-Confucius movement as well as one that promoted the western scientific and democratic ideas. Now on that day, the government at all levels will organize youth activities everywhere in the country to commemorate the special day.

Annual Events and Festivals
1) International Horticultural Exhibition in Beijing
The much anticipated hortticulture show is opened in Beijing’s Yanqing district on April 28. The horticultural expo officially welcomes visitors starting April 29. Its big collection of plants and flowers, jaw-dropping pavilions and green development concepts will entertain visitors for 162 days.

2) Peony Festival at Beijing’s Jingshan Park
Over 20,000 peony flowers are fully in bloom at Beijing’s Jingshan Park, starting the annual peony season.

3) Beijing Rose Cultural Festival
Venues: Beijing Botanical Garden, Temple of Heaven, Taoranting Park and more
Time: May 30 – June 20
The Chinese rose has its own cultural festival in Beijing. It is one of the city flowers of Beijing. Each year from the end of May to the Mid June, Beijing will hold its Rose Cultural Festival.

4) Mother’s Day
Chinese Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday in May. Mother’s Day is getting more popular in China.  Carnations and lilies are the important flowers offered on that day.

5) National  Tourism Day (May 19)
May 19 was declared as National Tourism Day in 2011. This special day is set to promote tourism as China has entered a period of mass tourism, in a bid to support tourist initiatives throughout the country. Many discounts for entrance fees and tickets will be offered by related units to benefit tourists.

6) National Day for Helping the Disabled
This day falls on the third Sunday in May. In China, it is reported there are approx. 51 million disabled people, or 5 percent of the total population. The Chinese government has paid great attention to the question of rights of the disabled and provided them special assistance and protection in order to reduce or eliminate the effects of disability and the external obstacles and guarantee their rights. On this particular day, various activities are carried out to help disabled people.

7) Huangyaguan Great Wall Marathon
Located 120km northeast of Beijing, Huangyaguan Great Wall is administered by Tianjin City. Since the inaugural Great Wall Marathon in 1999, the great wall race has grown steadily to over 2000 runners with participants from over 50 nations annualy.

The Great Wall Marathon event offers three distances of race: a marathon, half marathon and a 8.5km Fun Run. The Great Wall International Marathon is held on the third Saturday in May every year.

8) Daxing Annual Watermelon Festival
China is the largest watermelon producers, 40% of the total watermelon production in the world. Daxing, a district in the southern Beijing is well known for its watermelon growth and production.

Each year, the local Daxing goverment will hold a watermelon festival to promote watermelon economy and culture. Many domestic and oversea visitors will attend the special festival. This festival falls on late may and early June.

Beijing Weather in Each Month

Chinese version of the travel guide:

五月去北京旅游