Beijing · Month comparison

September vs October

September ranks #1 overall vs October at #2. Golden autumn with crystal-clear skies — Beijing at its most photogenic and comfortable

Great Wall of China bathed in golden autumn light with turning foliage

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
Tiananmen Square decorated with flowers and national flags for National Day

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
FactorSeptemberOctober
Weather score
9
8
Value score
5
3
Crowd score
7
9
Events score
6
8
Atmosphere
9
7
Avg high temp25°C17°C
Monthly rain56mm16mm
Daily sunshine9hrs9.5hrs

September trade-offs

  • Crowds build ahead of National Day Golden Week — book accommodation early
  • Prices rise across hotels and tours as demand peaks

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