Month guide · Beijing · China
Beijing in March
What March is really like in Beijing: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
March is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 4 rainy days and roughly 11.8 hours of daylight. Warming but dry and windy, with occasional dusty days; first blossoms appear late in the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 4
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in March
March is the 8th-warmest month in Beijing: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 18°C (64°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 4 of its 31 days. Compared with February (5°C (41°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 06:26
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:21
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
Spring (March–May). Blossom and warming days, with dry winds and occasional dust in March and April; May is warm and sunny.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes March one of the better-value months to book.
Events in March
- Two Sessions — annual national legislative meetings with tighter security around Tiananmen (usually early March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Palace · Wangfujing and Dongcheng
Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
Walk the side courtyards to the east and west of the central axis, which are far quieter, then climb Jingshan Park opposite the north gate for the view over the roofs.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
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Landmark · Wangfujing and Dongcheng
Tiananmen Square
One of the world's largest public squares, bordered by Tiananmen gate with its portrait of Mao Zedong, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
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Religious site · Yonghegong and Wudaoying
Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple)
Walk to the Temple of Confucius a few minutes away along cypress-lined Guozijian Street afterwards.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Iconic
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Museum · Wangfujing and Dongcheng
National Museum of China
On the east side of Tiananmen Square, this enormous museum's Ancient China galleries run from Neolithic jade and Shang bronzes to Ming and Qing porcelain.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 1°C and 4 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Beijing?
A good-value shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Beijing in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Beijing?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Warming but dry and windy, with occasional dusty days; first blossoms appear late in the month.
+How warm is Beijing in March?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Beijing in March?
Expect rain on about 4 days of the month, so it is usually dry.