178 CultureShock! China
typically blow in from Taiwan between July and September
and leaves sparkling blue skies and fat white clouds in
the sky.
Guangzhou is in south China, close enough to Hong Kong
that they have parallel weather patterns. Also at sea-level, it
receives far more rainfall than Shanghai and has consistently
higher temperatures. Guangzhou is steamy humid a majority
of the year. The rainy, hot and humid periods run from
April to September, during which time the temperatures
can rise as high as 38°C (100°F). Guangzhou winters stay
a pleasant 10°C (50°F) to 20°C (68°F), and are three short
months: December to February. Guangzhou is in a typhoon
corridor from July to September, during which time one can
experience forceful rains.
In recent years, torrential downpours during the rainy and
typhoon periods caused massive flooding and landslides in
numerous provinces. The Chinese government have since
spared no effort in putting up measures to minimise and
curb the aftermath of the downpours.
Temperatures in Lhasa, elevation 3,658 m (12,001 ft),
range from -10°C (14°F) to highs at or barely above 20°C
(68°F), May to September. Its rainy season is June to August.
It is suggested that the best time to trek in the Himalayas is
October or November, when the rainy season is finished and
before the winter cold sets in. Sandstorms are more common
than rainstorms in Tibet. It is an arid place where the mid-
day sun suggests short sleeves, while within eight hours you
can be in a harsh cold well below freezing.Travelling During National Holidays
People working in China receive a full week off for Chinese
New Year, National Day and May Day. In the late 1990s, the
government implemented extended holidays in an effort
to stimulate the domestic economy through tourism and
shopping, both well-loved holiday activities. What began as
an attempt to stimulate the domestic economy has turned
into a regular extended holiday schedule.
Traveling during any of the three week-long holidays
requires allowing additional generous advance time in