Beijing · Month comparison

March vs October

October ranks #1 overall vs March at #6. National Day Golden Week brings China's largest domestic travel surge — magical if you plan around it

Temple rooftops in Beijing with early spring blossoms

March

#6 of 12 months

Worth considering

Warming days and uncrowded streets — Beijing's quiet shoulder season with emerging blossoms

  • ↑Rising temperatures and early cherry blossoms at Yuanmingyuan and Jingshan
  • ↑Good hotel availability and moderate prices before April peak
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
FactorMarchOctober
Weather score
5
9
Value score
7
3
Crowd score
4
10
Events score
4
8
Atmosphere
6
8
Avg high temp12°C17°C
Monthly rain9mm16mm
Daily sunshine7.5hrs9.5hrs

March trade-offs

  • ↓Dust storms from Mongolia are possible, reducing visibility
  • ↓Mornings can still be cold (2–12°C) and smoggy days persist

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 →March in detail →October in detail →
Scores compare months within Beijing. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →