What is the climate like?

China is almost as large as the continental United States.  It is also placed at roughly the same latitudes.  So its weather is quite comparable to that of the U.S.

The city of Xiamen [pronounced like “SHAH men”], where CSP students spend the majority of the semester, has a sub-tropical climate with weather patterns much like Tampa, Florida—but with fewer thunderstorms. Generally, the fall semester has warm weather (shorts and short-sleeved shirts most of the time), and the spring semester cooler (light jackets and long pants).

Other cities the program visits, such as Xi'an or Beijing are much farther north and experience all four seasons. It can be chilly on the Great Wall in November or March, so be prepared for a variety of climates. In a pinch, you can always buy a sweater or heavy coat for relatively little money when you need one (say, 25 USD for a North Face-type coat).