Since China is such a large country, it contains within its borders five climate zones. You will need to prepare for your China trip accordingly. What you need to bring for clothing primarily depends on what areas you will be visiting and what time of year you plan your China tour.

China’s Five Climate Zones

Cold Temperate Zone: Northern Heilongjiang Province and Inner Mongolia

Mid-Temperature Zone: Jinlin Province, Northern Xinjiang Province, and the greater part of Liaoning Province, Heilongjiang Province, and southern Inner Mongolia

Warm-Temperature Zone: Shandong Province, Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province, and Hebei Province

Subtropical Zone: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Guangxi Province, Jiangsu Province, Yunnan Province, and Sichuan Province

Tropical Zone: Taiwan, Guangdong Province, and southern Yunnan Province

Plateau Climate Zone: Tibet and sections of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

If you are visiting China’s mountains, it is almost always colder on the mountains, than the area around them, so even if you are visiting in summer, a light jacket would be recommended.