Beijing · Month comparison
October vs September
September ranks #1 overall vs October at #2. Golden autumn with crystal-clear skies — Beijing at its most photogenic and comfortable
October
#2 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
September
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Golden autumn with crystal-clear skies — Beijing at its most photogenic and comfortable
- ↑Perfect 20–26°C temperatures and brilliant blue skies after the summer haze lifts
- ↑Great Wall sections like Jinshanling and Mutianyu glow with early autumn colour
| Factor | October | September |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 9 |
| Value score | 3 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 9 | 7 |
| Events score | 8 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 17°C | 25°C |
| Monthly rain | 16mm | 56mm |
| Daily sunshine | 9.5hrs | 9hrs |
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
September trade-offs
- ↓Crowds build ahead of National Day Golden Week — book accommodation early
- ↓Prices rise across hotels and tours as demand peaks
Scores compare months within Beijing. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →