Hi- I wil lbe in Bejing, Xi'an, Guilin and Shanghai from April 15-27. What is the climate and the best clothing to bring?

April in Beijing is dust season. Bring a small bandana to cover your face for then the winds start up. Temperatures are nice, though, but bring layers b/c the temp will drop after 4PM and again at sunset. Figure longsleeved t-shirts and light jacket or sweater.

Sounds like lots of fun with the dust...Do you know the temperature ranges in Beijing or Shanghai?

ttt

I was there last year at exactly that time period, it WAS dusty, but not too bad, however, we missed the big duststorm from the previous week. More to the point, it was BOILING HOT. The entire two weeks I was in China, it never got below 80 degrees (at night!) and it was a whopping 89 degrees during the day (this was in Beijing-the "northern capital!&quot You'll need your khakis and lightweight cotton pants-also lightweight jackets to layer with tees and the like.

I just checked the 5 day forecast: next Mon. and Tues. it will be respectively 84 and 81 degrees already! You can expect more of the same when you get there. Personally, I loved it. And the flowers will all be in bloom-it's really lovely in the Summer Palace area-wish I was going!

Yes, it was hot this week, and sunny. It was about 75 (24 Celcius) but today it is grey, polluted and cold. I am wearing a jacket!

The cities you mentioned are far apart, distance wise, so Guilin and Shanghai will be warmer than Beijing and Xi'An.

Pack as you would for any trip...layers! Beijing is not only dusty, but windy, so if you get a "cold" day, it will feel even colder.

You never can tell in the in-between seasosn, so be prepared by pakcing a light fleece and having short sleeved shirts, long sleeved shirts and cardignas.

I just started the packing process and have jeans, long sleeve t-shirts and short sleeve t's as well. I have a lightweight jacket too. Should i bring a pair of shorts?

You bet. Even though you may not need them in BJ, it is usually warmer in Sh and Guilin. But don't panic. Clothes here are cheap and if you don't have what you need, you can easily pick something up, even in larger western sizes.

Danak: you do see shorts in the summertime in Beijing, you do not see shorts in April, May, however, on any of the locals-only tourists wear shorts in the spring.

Just returned from a 10 day trip to Shanghai and Beijing... It was cool in Shanghai but not very cold. Beijing on the other hand, temps ranged from 55 deg F to hi 70's - we were on the Great Wall (with hardly a soul--which was really great!) and it was so warm, my son stripped down to his tank. Weather in Beijing was almost tropical with downpours without any notice, the cell passes and it just stops.

It is extremely dusty in Beijing without the dust storms - there's construction everywhere you look. Since there will be a moratorium on construction in 2007 in preparation for the Olympics.

ps to Bchen: Found Grandma's Kitchen (the one near the St Regis) during our last full day and by that time we were really ready for a juicy burger, fries and milkshake! Warning though - the philly cheese steak sandwich and burgers are large enough to share! thanks very much for the recommendation. Really funky place and CLEAN restrooms.

Glad you found Grandmas!! The one you went to was slated to close, but never did. And yes, they have "U.S." portions.

Weather today in Bj is as gross as dust season can get, minus the storm.

As for shorts, many Chinese don't wear them, but there is no cultural taboo. You will see men with their pants rolled up to their knees and stripped down to a skimpy undershirt when it gets really hot. So do pack your shorts and wear them with confidence when weather dictates.

lots of great advice here. I have 2 more questions:

1) Any great restaurant recomendations in Beijing and Shanghai?

2) Are fancy jeans accepatable to go out for dinner with a nice top?

"Fancy" in Beijing means iron your khakis. There are very few places in BJ that would warrant anything other than everyday jeans.

For a great listing of restaurants, check out thatsbj.com

It is the most reliable source for expats here. There is also a That's for Shanghai as well. And while you are here, pick up their free English monthly mags.

Restaurants are cheap and plentiful!

We went everywhere in jeans even to fancier restaurants. One night we just didn't feel like leaving the hotel - Peninsula Palace - and ate at their chinese restaurant - Huang Ting - pricier than other restaurants but the food and decor was worth it - again we went in jeans. For roast duck, we went around the corner to Wangfujing's "Shopping Street" to Quanjude Roast Duck. For snacks and checking out "food on a stick" - kebabs which seems to be really popular in China - from glazed fruits to meats to grasshoppers - Donghuamen Night Market - "Food street". There's also a "Bar Street".

One note on buying clothes in China - make sure you leave your ego at home - I am a size 2/4 - small in the U.S., sometimes even an extra small - but a shopkeeper who was helping me looked me up and down and said "L" as in LARGE!

As far as what to wear, it ALL depends on whether or not you're a "hot" person and how well you can take the heat. I can't stand the heat and humidity and I ALWAYS wear shorts and a t-shirt or tank top when it hits anything over 70 in China. Even if it rains, I'll wear shorts because it's still hot!

I forgot to add....I NEVER wear layers when there's humidity involved....even in the evenings.

i just checked the weather in Beijing and it's high 70's for the next few days - sweet!

Sounds like perfect weather for shorts!!

Hate to burst your bubble... I wore a jacket yesterday with a long sleeved thin high neck sweater.

A "high temperature"of the day, taken from a themometer in the sun is very different to a windy day when you are out and about.

It is much warmer and nicer than it has been, but it is not shorts weather just yet in Beijing. Maybe capris.

The sun can be warm, but only for the peak hours. It is quite chilly in the morning and again by 3PM.

I did sit outside for lunch on Wed, but was wearing long sleeves.

I hope, however, that weather will prove me wrong, as I am dying to pack away my winter clothes!!!

Again, it all depends if you're a "hot" or a "cold" person.
Bchen, do you get cold easily? I don't get cold easily and I can wear shorts year round, even if it's 50 or 60 degrees. Weather and what to wear is such a hard topic to discuss, because what might be cold to you is not necessarily cold to others. My question is how can it be in the high 70's and yet you had to wear a jacket? Because some people are "cold" people and others are "hot" people.