February and March work well for Malaysians who want fewer crowds and a mild south, as long as you plan around the Spring Festival and pack for a real cold snap in the north. If you are looking at these two months because the dates suit your family, you can make them work.
It is natural to worry that “after the holiday” means closed shops or grey skies. For most routes it means the opposite: quieter sights, easier tickets and flowers starting to open.
What happens after Spring Festival?
The holiday is the biggest travel surge of the year, and the weeks after it are the calmest. China’s official 2026 Spring Festival holiday ran 15 to 23 February, nine days[1]. Two Saturdays around it were make-up workdays[2].
In 2027 Lunar New Year’s Day falls on 6 February[3]. The official holiday window for 2027 is normally published in early to mid November[4], so wait for that notice before you buy tickets near those dates.
If you can start your trip a week or two after the festival ends, do. Read our Chinese New Year travel guide for the holiday weeks themselves.
How cold is it, and where?
The north is still cold, the middle is damp and the south is mild. Beijing averages about -3.7 C in January, with very dry winters[5][6]. February is only a little warmer, so treat it as a winter trip.
Kunming, in Yunnan, is nicknamed the City of Eternal Spring for its mild weather[7]. It averages roughly 9 C in January[8], and evenings stay cool. China’s main typhoon season is July to September[9], so the south is far calmer now than in summer.
Coming from the tropics, dress in layers rather than one heavy jacket. Our weather guide for tropical travellers explains what to pack, and the Yunnan month-by-month guide shows how the mild south behaves.
Where is the blossom?
Blossom is the reason many photographers choose these months. It moves from south to north, so the same flower can be at its peak in two places weeks apart.
- Plum blossom opens first, in late winter, in the south and around Yangtze cities.
- Rapeseed fields turn yellow in the milder south and in parts of Yunnan as winter ends.
- Cherry and peach blossom follow as March turns to April.
Bloom dates shift with each year’s weather, so do not book a flower trip a month ahead and hope. Follow local bloom reports a week before, keep a spare day, and see our April spring guide if you would rather arrive when flowers are surer.
What about holidays and crowds in March?
March has no long national holiday, which is why prices and queues are calmer. Qingming, the tomb-sweeping holiday, falls just after March, and in 2026 it ran 4 to 6 April[10]. Check the public holiday calendar for the year you travel, because a short holiday can fill trains for a weekend.
Malaysian visitors can stay 30 days per stay without a visa[11], which is enough for a slow late-winter route. Confirm on the official source before you fly.
How should you plan it?
Choose one climate, not three. A Beijing and Harbin plan needs heavy winter gear, while a Yunnan or Guilin plan needs a light jacket. Mixing both makes your suitcase heavy and your days rushed.
Train tickets usually go on sale 15 days before departure[12], so book as soon as the window opens if you cross the country. Use the circuit chooser to match a route to your dates, and the seasons topic page to compare other months.
When you know your dates and who is coming, send us a message and we will suggest a route that matches the weather.