Beijing · Month comparison

December vs October

October ranks #1 overall vs December at #11. National Day Golden Week brings China's largest domestic travel surge — magical if you plan around it

Great Wall of China in winter mist with no crowds

December

#11 of 12 months

Worth considering

Cold and smoggy but peaceful — perfect for empty Great Wall photos and bargain Forbidden City visits

  • ↑Great Wall almost entirely to yourself — a rare and deeply atmospheric experience
  • ↑Cheapest hotel rates all year and easy last-minute bookings
Tiananmen Square decorated with flowers and national flags for National Day

October

#1 of 12 months

Best match

National Day Golden Week brings China's largest domestic travel surge — magical if you plan around it

  • ↑National Day celebrations (Oct 1) at Tiananmen Square are a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle
  • ↑Post-Golden Week (Oct 8+) the crowds drop but the autumn colour remains superb
FactorDecemberOctober
Weather score
3
9
Value score
8
3
Crowd score
2
10
Events score
4
8
Atmosphere
4
8
Avg high temp2°C17°C
Monthly rain3mm16mm
Daily sunshine5hrs9.5hrs

December trade-offs

  • ↓Sub-zero possible (−6 to 3°C) and pollution alerts are common
  • ↓Short days (9h daylight) limit outdoor sightseeing time significantly

October trade-offs

  • ↓Oct 1–7 Golden Week is China's busiest travel period — expect wall-to-wall crowds at every sight
  • ↓Hotels and transport booked out months ahead, prices surge to annual peak
  • ↓Queue times at Forbidden City, Great Wall can exceed 2 hours
See all 12 months for Beijing →December in detail →October in detail →
Scores compare months within Beijing. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →