A Month-by-Month China Travel Guide: Where to Travel in China in August
A year-round guide to discovering China’s most beautiful, culturally rich, and seasonally perfect destinations.
August is China’s high summer — hot, vibrant, and alive. Yes, the lowlands can swelter, but head to higher elevations or wide open spaces, and you’ll find a side of China that’s fresh, cool, and astonishingly beautiful. Wildflowers bloom in the west, salt lakes shimmer under piercing blue skies, and cool evenings soften even the hottest days. Whether you're craving alpine calm or quirky reflections, August has a surprising number of secrets — if you know where to look.
August
Reflections, Festivals & End-of-Summer Wanderlust
Chaka Salt Lake, Qinghai
China’s “Mirror of the Sky”
Known as the “mirror of the sky,” Chaka Salt Lake is an ethereal landscape of glassy water reflecting cotton clouds and endless blue. At 3,000 meters above sea level, this ancient salt lake feels like another planet — and August is the best time to witness its full mirror effect.
Top things to do:
Walk the raised causeways and wade barefoot into shallow water for surreal photos.
Ride the small narrow-gauge train across the lake’s salt crust.
Visit the on-site salt sculpture museum and learn about the lake’s 3,000-year-old mining tradition.
Stargaze under pristine skies if you stay overnight nearby.
What to eat: Lamb skewers, yak yogurt, salty milk tea, and highland barley cakes.
Travel tips:
Bright sun and white salt make sunglasses and SPF essential.
Pair with Qinghai Lake or Kanbula National Forest Park for a longer loop.
It’s 2.5 hours from Xining by car or train — make it a day trip or overnight.
Lhasa & Yamdrok Lake, Tibet
Holy water and blue-sky clarity
August is Tibet’s high season — and with good reason. While monsoon rains hit lower elevations in China, Lhasa basks in clear light, cool air, and deep cultural resonance. It’s the perfect time to explore spiritual sites, shimmering lakes, and highland plateaus in full bloom.
Top things to do:
Visit Potala Palace and join pilgrims circling Jokhang Temple.
Drive to Yamdrok Lake, where the turquoise water defies belief.
Sip butter tea in a teahouse filled with chanting and quiet contemplation.
See monks debate philosophy in the courtyards of Sera Monastery.
What to eat: Tsampa (roasted barley flour), yak momo dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, and sweet milk tea.
Travel tips:
Acclimatize properly — even if you feel okay at first, altitude sickness can strike unexpectedly.
Permits are required — travel with a licensed Tibet tour agency.
August is lively, with summer rituals and festivals — but book accommodation early.
Dali, Yunnan
Breezy lakeside calm with mountain views
Once a backpacker haven, now a boho-chic favorite, Dali remains one of Yunnan’s most relaxing destinations. Nestled between the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake, it’s blessed with mild weather year-round, and in August, it’s cooler than much of the country — with occasional refreshing rain.
Top things to do:
Wander Dali Old Town, with its whitewashed Bai-style homes, boutiques, and teahouses.
Take an electric scooter around Erhai Lake, stopping at flower fields and waterfront cafés.
Ride the cable car up Cangshan for hiking trails and misty pine forests.
Explore nearby villages like Shuanglang or Xizhou for morning markets and local cooking.
What to eat: Rushan cheese (grilled or wrapped around chopsticks), steam pot chicken, fried goat’s cheese, and minty Bai hotpot.
Travel tips:
Expect afternoon drizzles — they rarely last long.
Avoid national holidays when crowds spike.
Consider staying in a local-style courtyard guesthouse near the lake for peace and views.
Siguniang Mountain, Sichuan
Alpine peaks and silence in panda country
Known as the “Queen of Sichuan’s Mountains,” Siguniang is often compared to the Swiss Alps — but with far fewer crowds. By August, the valleys are flush with alpine blooms, and the trails are open and glorious.
Top things to do:
Hike the Three Valleys: Shuangqiao (easiest), Changping (mid-range), and Haizi (most remote).
See Mount Siguniang’s jagged peaks reflected in glassy alpine lakes.
Spot rare wildlife — including golden monkeys and maybe even wild pandas.
Stay in Tibetan-style guesthouses with yak milk breakfasts and wood-fired stoves.
What to eat: Wild mushroom hotpot, Tibetan barley wine, tsampa pancakes, and yak cheese.
Travel tips:
Altitude ranges from 3,000–5,000m — acclimate slowly and don’t push it on day one.
Access via Xiaojin or Chengdu (6–8 hours drive).
Bring waterproof gear — rain can surprise even on sunny mornings.
Hulunbuir or Xilingol, Inner Mongolia
Last golden breath of summer on the steppe
As August unfolds, the Inner Mongolian grasslands reach their peak lushness — golden grasses, cool evenings, and expansive skies. Hulunbuir is more untouched; Xilingol is easier to access. Both offer vast, open space and a timeless rhythm of herding life.
Top things to do:
Ride horses with Mongolian herders through rolling fields.
Sleep in traditional gers (yurts) and try archery or wrestling demonstrations.
Visit Erguna Wetlands or the Hulun Lake for birdlife and sunrise calm.
Celebrate summer’s end with bonfires, singing, and Mongolian dance.
What to eat: Roast lamb, milk tea, cheese curds, yogurt with sugar, and wild leek dumplings.
Travel tips:
The air is dry, the sun is strong — SPF and hydration are key.
Travel with a local guide for cultural etiquette and navigation.
Nights can get chilly even in summer — pack warm layers.
August is the month to seek space, elevation, and stillness. Whether it’s the dreamlike glass of Chaka Salt Lake, the wind-whipped yurts of Inner Mongolia, or the high monasteries of Tibet, this is a time for personal pilgrimage. Late-summer storms give way to golden evenings. Lakes reflect skies, and trails wind into silence.
So—where will your August take you? Start planning your route now and don’t forget to pack your rain jacket, your hiking boots, and a healthy appetite for wild, open places. Up next: September, when golden birch forests and quiet canyon towns begin to glow.