May is the end of China's spring, which is full of vitality. Many natural scenic areas are transformed by oceans of flowers and mountains are covered with exuberant trees and plants.
May is neither too hot nor too cold, making it an ideal season to travel around China.We have listed the best 10 places to visit in May: 1) Shangri-La, 2) Tibet, 3) Guilin, 4) Chengdu, 5) Zhongwei, 6) Yangtze River Cruise, 7) the Silk Road, 8) Zhangjiajie, 9) Chaozhou, and 10) Jingdezhen.
1. Shangri-La — a Colorful Palette to Feast the Eyes
Located at the border betweenYunnan ProvinceandTibet, the fabulous natural scenery in Shangri-La makes you think of heaven.
Shangri-Lain spring is light green and in summer it's awash with color. Snowy mountains, dense forests, green grasslands and pastoral villages make it a peaceful and tranquil place.
In addition to its amazing natural scenery, its ethnic culture is a major reason to visit Shangri-La. The main ethnic group there is the Tibetans, who still maintain their traditional lifestyle and culture.
There you could:
- Experience a Tibetan ceremony of blessingbehind Songzanlin Monastery, which is not seen by ordinary tourists.
- Visit anon-public dormitoryof Songzanlin Monastery.
- Stay in a tenton a mountain pasture where local Tibetan people live and learn about their lifestyle.
If youlook for a place to escape crowds in Yunnan during Labor Day, we recommend a Baoshan Stone Village's hiking in Lijiang — a good place to get close to nature and feel the vitality of spring.
Houses in the village are all made of natural stones by its Naxi inhabitants. May is its most beautiful season. If you are interested in it,contact us.
2. Tibet — Untainted Land and Mysterious Culture
Tibetis a place of mystery, tranquility, and rich national heritage. It's a place for slowing down and soaking up the natural charm all around.
The breathtaking beauty of nature in Tibet will capture your imagination.Yamdrok Lakeglows turquoise when the sun is shining.
Tibet is overflowing with characteristic Tibetan landmarks, vastTibetan plateau, herds of cattle and sheep, blue skies, clear water, and fresh air.
There you could:
- VisitJokhang Temple, the most holy temple for Tibetan Buddhists, wherea lot of devoted pilgrims prostrate themselvesnear the front gate.
- ExploreAni Tsankhung Nunnery, a quiet but active conventwhere females study Buddhism.
- Take photos with a yakor Tibetan mastiff by the Yamdrok lakeside.
Recommended Tours
- 8-Day Lhasa, Nyingchi, and Bome Spring Tour— When Spring's Pink Blends with Mysterious Tibet
- 4-Day Lhasa Highlights Comfort Tour— Capture the Spirit of Lhasa
All our tours can be customized. The itinerary can be adjusted according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements. Justcontact us.
China Highlights,Asia Highlights, andGlobal Highlightscollaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.
|
One Day Beijing Trip (Great Wall, Summer Palace) With Jennifer
My tour guide Jennifer made this quick one day trip to Beijing great! The day started out a bit overcast and rainy when I landed, but Jennifer’s positive attitude and kind communication (along with her being able to keep up/put up with my jokes) made it fine.Despite this, Jennifer and our driver Chen were able to swing an extra photo shoot stop at the Olympic Stadium. I guess it gives me an excuse to come back to visit again, and when I do - I will use China Highlights and this great fantastic team. more
Sep 2023, Alan Landau
|
Best Great Wall experience
Used China Highlights for a private all-day tour of Jinshanling portion of the Great Wall. One of the best days of my life! Tour guide Alan and a driver met me at my hotel and the ride was very comfortable. Alan was extremely knowledgable and friendly, I really enjoyed talking with him. The scenery was astoundingly beautiful; this is a less touristy portion of the Wall. The hiking was fun, Alan brought plenty of water, and showed me things I would not have noticed by myself. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a local restaurant for lunch that Alan had arranged - delicious! Once in a lifetime experience. more
Sep 2023, LZviajera
|
Non-standard private China tour
I booked a 4 weeks private China tour with ChinaHighlights covering landscapes and cultural sites between Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Hangzhou and Shanghai. The entire tour was set up accurately, very fast and in the light of all relevant personal preferences by Mrs. Carol Wang, an expert in organizing hand made voyages in China. Due to her knowledge and immediate responses the tour was scheduled comfortably and straightforward, including all transfers and authentic hotel bookings. I highly recommend ChinaHighlights and in particular Carol Wang for organizing any extraordinary, non-mainstream travel to China. more
Sep 2023, Dr. Manfred Leubner
|
Best way to see Beijing
Our guide Lily Liu was lovely - super patient, warm, knowledgeable about Chinese history, and great English skills. Would definitely recommend this service! more
Sep 2023, Stephanie N
|
Amazing tour!
Our guide, Linda, was by far the best person to have for our tours of The Forbidden City, Tianamen Square, and Mutianyu Great Wall. She was an encyclopedia with great knowledge of Chinese History and was able to explain every detail of what we were seeing. She picked us up with a very nice car and driver from our hotel both days, at the time most convenient to us, and dropped us back off wherever we wanted at the end of our tours. Both the Forbidden City and the Great Wall are marvels of human and Chinese achievements and are a must to see in Beijing. Visiting them both with a tour guide that feels more like a friend was certainly helping enjoying it even more. more
Sep 2023, Robin Z
|
Beijing is AMAZING
Linda Wang our amazing tour guide helped us to have an unforgettable trip to all the best of Beijing. From organizing the driver (also excellent) to drop us/pick us up exactly when we were leaving busy tourist sites, excellent food recommendations, fascinating knowledge relevant to us and our children (13yo and 11yo) making The Forbidden City, Tiannamen Square, Great Wall, Beijing Zoo and The Hutongs thoroughly enjoyable. Handling all the entrance/exit passport and ticket requirements, interpreting, answering any questions we had about local culture, we were so comfortable and happy, never rushed, everything you could want and more. more
Sep 2023, Michelle A
|
Personal Private tour China
Me and my wife have book a personal private tour to China with China Highlights in March'23 and I must say Ms Maggie Jiang has been very helpfully all along. Advising us on the trips, Visa, Covid and details of our trips coming this 18th September'23. We hope that with all the information provided by Maggie, we should be enjoying our coming tour in China. more
Sep 2023, John Wee
|
Very helpful with trip planning
Planned a trip to Beijing for around a week with China highlights. The consultant Silvia did a great job creating the itinerary of the trip. more
Sep 2023, ax zx
|
流线型的Fi和定制的旅行计划nest!
Roger Li has crafted the most amazing trip for my family for next summer! We have emailed back and forth about different experiences I wanted to add, and he always responded within a few hours. He actually ended up creating 4 different itineraries for me to choose from! Now we’re all set for a completely customized trip to China that includes all the major sites plus cultural experiences! I would recommend China Highlights to anyone thinking of going to China whether they are an experienced travel planner or a novice! Especially, if you get to work with Roger! more
Sep 2023, Tamara Scheel
|
Unforgettable trip!
Helen, my tour guide, to make possible this amazing first trip to China that I'll never forget! Each day was amazing, Helen helped a lot and was there since I got out to the arrival hall at the airport and replied all my curious questions related to China's history during the visit. For sure an unforgettable trip!!!! more
Sep 2023, Rebeca Elena
|
强烈推荐
Our tour guide, Mark was excellent. He was very accommodating and knowledgeable! We wouldn’t have seen half the places without Mark. He was able to get us past crowds and organised passport entry. Alongside Mr Who, the driver, it made our time in China hassle free and very memorable! Thank you Mark, Mr Who and China Highlights! more
Sep 2023, Sara N
|
Great service from China Highlights in planning my trip
I've been very happy with the service I have gotten so far (noting that my trip has not happened yet). My agent Roger Li has been so helpful. He helped me plan the Guiling day trip according to special requests and had great advice on how to plan a unique trip away from the crowds. We couldn't be more excited. Roger was also happy to help and answer all the questions I had unrelated to my planned trip with them and to help me out when I had some issues when I accidentally gave the wrong information when booking train tickets. His replies were always prompt and friendly. I feel very comfortable traveling to China knowing I can reach out to Roger with any issues that may arise during our China Highlights trip. more
Aug 2023, Jóna Marín ólafsdóttir
|
Beijing and a little beyond!
We have recently returned from an action packed 4-days in Beijing, including a trip to the Great Wall, in the company of Bruce, our tour guide from China Highlights. Bruce was very knowledgeable throughout the 4-days and took the time and effort to discuss various aspects of Chinese history with our teenage son, including quite a bit in mandarin . Our days were both busy and enjoyable and Bruce also seemed to know all the good places to eat – thanks Bruce and look forwards to next time! more
Aug 2023, Mike M
|
China Highlights - Beijing
Our trip to Beijing with China Highlights was amazing! We took our 12 year old daughter. Mark our guide did a wonderful job making sure we were all comfortable, stayed busy and got acclimated to China as Beijing was our first stop on the mainland. Mark has a lot of knowledge about China and the sites we saw and communication was easy (with us and with our daughter in Chinese). Thanks Mark! more
Aug 2023, Breton P
|
2-day Beijing
Top notch! Our 2-day Beijing trip was very well organised and tailored to our wishes. We visited the Great wall, Tiananmen square, forbidden city and had food at local restaurants. Email contact with China Highlights (Chandler Wang) was very convenient and replies were quick. Our tour guide (Felix) was very knowledgeable and very easy to speak to. The local restaurants visited during our trip had amazing food, really great experience! We had a great time and would definitely use China Highlights again. Thank you! more
Aug 2023, Jonna
|
Der Partner für eine individuelle China Reise
死机构(秋季unserem vertreten军队图图un) hat für uns eine perfekte Reise organisiert. Sehr gute Kommunikation im Vorfeld der Reise und vor Ort. Zu 100% verl?sslich, immer pünktlich und an jedem Ort sehr freundliche und engagierte Guides. Wir k?nnen eine Buchung bei diesem Unternehmen absolut und uneingeschr?nkt empfehlen. In Beijing hatten wir mit Herrn Chen 3 interessante Tage inklusive einer sehr spannenden individuellen Wanderung auf der grossen Mauer. more
Aug 2023, Jeanne K
|
Beijing Tour
Bruce was an amazing guide and very knowledgeable. He got me past ALOT of long lines fast and knew all the best places to go to take pictures! Also provided good recommendations for additional activities! If you get Bruce you’re in good hands! more
Aug 2023, Anthony L
|
Great two weeks in China with China Highlights
The trip included Shanghai where Kris was our amazing guide, Guilin and Yangshuo with Gary who did an amazing job at adjusting the schedule to meet our needs given the incredible heat, Chengdu with Helen who shared her passion for the Pandas with us, had fun in the peoples park with us and introduced us to the local opera which was fascinating and ensured we were able to taste amazing Sizhuan food without burning up! We then moved on to Xian with Jenny who ensured we got to the Terracotta army early enough to get an amazing view, took us to try our hand at making our own warriors, was very knowledgable about the history of Xian which was very interesting and lastly allowed us to try making dumplings which we all loved. Our final stop was Beijing. Ethan was our tour guide and he again did an amazing job ensuring we got to the Great Wall of China early enough to see the amazing wall without too many people and whilst it was still relatively cool, share his great knowledge of the Forbidden City and Summer Palace with us, introduced us to the Beijing Hot Pot and importantly ensured we were able to celebrate our sons 18th birthday in style and with his favourite Chinese food!! Thank you again for making our 2 weeks so special and we will for sure be back very soon. more
Aug 2023, Sandra
|
There is tour guides and there is felix
I had a blast with this tour! Felix is such an amazing person and so knowledgeable! He understands how to share knowledge and make us interested! Me and my friends had a wonderful day with Felix around the city I highly recommend China Highlights and would most likely recommend felix!!! more
Aug 2023, PrettoMauricio
|
Jennifer is an awesome guide and the…
Jennifer is an awesome guide and the tours were great! more
Aug 2023, Renan Santos
|
3. Guilin — Enjoy Various Outdoor Activities
The Li Riveris more charming under the warm sunshine of May. May is a golden time for bamboo rafting onthe Yulong Riverand cycling in the countryside of阳朔.
May is also the time for irrigating theLongji Terraced Fields. Seen from the mountainside viewpoints, the fields look like layer upon layer of exquisite mirrors.
There you could:
- Go kayakingto enjoy the cool water and appreciate the karst scenery along the Li River.
- Explore a "mysterious" limestone cavewith magnificent stalactites and stalagmites that has never been touched by ordinary tourists.
- Hike among theLongji Terraced Fields, enjoy a lunch with a Yao family, and try some freshly-fried oil tea.
4. Chengdu — Have a Spring Date with Cute Pandas
May is a pleasant time to visit Chengdu with refreshing spring colors around you. Meeting the cute pandas and having a hotpot feast and other local snacks in Chengdu are must-do things.
Chengduers go out to relax in the warm spring sunshine in Renmin Park. They sip cups of tea, play mahjong, enjoy a traditional teahouse ear massage, etc.
There you could:
- Meet the cuddly pandasin the Panda Breeding and Research Center.
- Visitthe last farmers' marketin Chengdu, learn how to how to bargain like a local, and try some local snacks.
- Enjoya panda afternoon teaand a bird's-eye view of Tianfu Square.
Recommended Tours
- 为期3天的大熊猫,大佛,古镇Tour
- 4-Day Western Sichuan Tibetan Spring Tour from Chengdu
- 8-Day Chengdu to Shangri-La Adventure Tour
Contact usto create a trip for your spring break according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements.
5. Zhongwei — Feel the Charm of the Desert
In spring, when everyone goes to admire the flowers, a trip to the desert stands out as discerning for more than hay fever sufferers.
Its advantageous and strategic location has endowedZhongweiwith the features of vast deserts and green hills, the Yellow River and an oasis. At the same time, you are able to enjoy various entertaining activities there, such as sand slides and camel rides.
There you could:
- Experiencedune bashing, sand sledding, camel trekking, and sheepskin rafting in Shapotou.
- Experiencesheepskin navigationon the Yellow River.
- Enjoywine tastingand an organic lunch in peace with a view of the vineyard.
Recommended Tour
- 3 Days Zhongwei Desert Tour with Winery Experience— A Sip of Desert Wilderness
- Contact usto create a May trip according to your needs
6. The Yangtze River Cruise — Cozy and Relaxing
The Yangtze River is one of the best options to escape crowds in May Day, where you can enjoy a relatively quiet and relaxing time. The plants on the mountains and high cliffs along the Yangtze River are verdant.
There you could:
- Appreciate the marvelous gorge scenery from the deck
- Have a cup of coffee or glass of wine bathed in the breeze
- Have a wonderful welcome banquet and talk with people from all over the world
Contact usif you want to book a Yangtze River Cruise.
7. The Silk Road — Rich Culture Experience
Along the Silk Road, from Xi'an to Kashgar, you will find intriguing scenery, together with the historic sites and cultural places.
There you could:
- Bask in history and art in theMogao Caves
- Take instagrammable photos with the rainbow mountains inZhangye Danxia National Geological Park
- DiscoverKashgar Old City— the only traditional historical district with typical characteristics of Xinjiang that is being preserved
See12 Best Silk Road Destinations with Recommended Things to Do.
Recommended Tours
- 11-Day Along the Great Silk Road Tour
- 6-Day Dunhuang and Zhangye Photography Tour
- More Silk Road Tours
8. Zhangjiajie — Vigorous Forests and Seas of Clouds
The mountainous scenery inZhangjiajieis unique and fabulous and is even more charming and poetic under the misty rain and fog or early summer.
It is more relaxing during this season, with fewer people around. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle, this may be the best season for you.
- Escape the crowds entirely and enjoy the scenery onan off-the-beaten track route.
- Bike around the beautiful andnon-touristy side of Tianmen Mountain.
- Experiencevia ferrata(cable-safe cliff challenges) at Hongyanling (Red Rock Ridge).
- Trybungee jumpingon the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge
Recommended Tours
5-Day Zhangjiajie Hiking and Biking Tour for Any Level
4-Day Zhangjiajie Essence Tour
9. Chaozhou — Go on a Date with Delicacies
Chaozhouhas inherited a food culture dating back to the Qin (2,200 years ago) and Song (1,000 years ago) dynasties.
It is a paradise for a food hunter — from its delicious Teochew beef hot pot to fresh fish dumplings, and from its crispy spring rolls to novel fermented bean curd cake.
In addition to its food culture, there is much more to explore: brilliant history, distinctive folk customs…
There you could:
- Enjoyamazing Chaozhou cuisinein Paifang Street.
- TasteChaozhou kung fu teaand watch Chaozhou opera in a teahouse in Chaozhou Old Town.
- ExploreGuangji Bridge, one of the greatest creations in China's history of bridge construction, while you take in Chaozhou's history.
Recommend Tour
- 3-Day Chaozhou and Shantou Tour— A Bite of Chaoshan
All our tours can be customized. The itinerary can be adjusted according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements. Justcontact us.
10. Jingdezhen — Best Place to Appreciate Chinese Porcelain
In the south of China, there is a thousand-year-old town named after the Jingde emperor's reign in Song Dynasty. It produces a beautiful and precious product whose English name is synonymous with China, even its namesake. Welcome to Jingdezhen.
Porcelain (also called china) is the soul and life of Jingdezhen. A trip to Jingdezhen is a must for china lovers and porcelain enthusiasts.
There you could:
- Visit the Museum of Porcelain, which will take you through China's porcelain history.
- Create some porcelain of your ownunder the guidance of a master.
- Visit Yaoli Ancient Town andfind the secret ingredientsof porcelain.
Recommended Tour
- 3-Day Jingdezhen Porcelain Tour— Discover Why china Is Called "china"
Our Most Popular May Tours
If you are planning a trip in China in May, consider the following choice tours for inspiration:
- 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour— Meet the Amazing Beauty of Yunnan
- 8-Day Guilin, Yangshuo, and Guizhou Relaxation Tour— Picturesque Karst Scenery and Idyllic Countryside
- 8 Days Chengdu to Shangri-La Adventure Tour— A Memorable Road Trip on the HAN-TIBETAN ROAD
All our tours can be customized. If you are not interested in the above destinations or tours, you cancontact usto tailor-make a May tour for you.