China weather

A China weather article may not sound like the most riveting pre-trip reading, but if you’ve ever arrived in a new destination and been totally underprepared because it’s too hot, cold, wet or dry, you’ll understand just how quickly travel plans can be derailed. What starts out as fun quickly turns to a much less enjoyable experience - all because you didn’t check the weather.

Like so many aspects of China, weather is not straightforward. How can it be? In a country that covers a massive expanse in all directions, there are bound to be variances in China weather - sometimes really big ones - on any given day. That’s why it pays to do your research well in advance, not only of your arrival, but planning and booking your trip too.

Without drowning you in too much detail, like the rising floodwaters of a tropical summer typhoon, we’ve endeavoured to capture the all important information for adventurers making their way to China, regardless of when and where they travel.

China’s coastline just on its own stretches a whopping 18,000 kilometers, so as you’d expect with such a distance, the zones within China itself present a wide range of temperatures and climates.

During winter, China is generally warm in the south and cold - in some places, bitterly cold - in the north. Temperature differences between north and south
can vary by up to 50°. The influence of the winter monsoon, which brings cold
and dry winter winds from Mongolia and Siberia impacts the northern region
of China. Visit Beijing during the coldest months of the year and you will
definitely be pulling out your thermal gear, gloves, and beanie.

By contrast, in summer, which runs from June to August, you will find temper-
atures that reach the other extreme. With the exception of the high lying
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Tianshan Mountains, the average temperature in
most areas sits above 20°C. In fact, you will find that in many places in the
south, the average is above 28°C.

Now if you’re thinking that sounds quite manageable and you think Turpan
in high summer sounds ideal, you may just want to reconsider your travel

plans. Freezing cold in winter, temperatures in Turpan swing in the opposite direction during summer, hitting an average high of 40°C (104°F).

Remember too there is a wet season in China weather and the timing of it varies from north to south. In the south, with its more tropical and subtropical weather zone, the wet season starts early and ends late. The wettest months are between May and October.

The wet season in the north is shorter and concentrated in July and August (summer). Monsoons are a common feature of China’s weather, both in warm and cold months. Fortunately, this is most advantageous for agriculture, as it allows for diversity in crop cultivation and animal production.

But it’s not all good news. Floods, along with other natural disasters such as drought, earthquakes, and cold waves occur regularly each year, and in some cases, with catastrophic effects.

Although we’ve only provided a brief overview of China weather here, at the very least, you have the basics, and can start to plan the timing of your trip accordingly.

The takeaways on China weather for foreign visitors?

Beijing

China’s capital, Beijing is located in a warm temperate zone, which means its weather is affected significantly by monsoons. It is reliably cold and dry in winter (even snowing into spring sometimes), with the average January temperature coming in at a chilly -3.5°C. While walking around outside and taking in the highlights like the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Tiananmen Square might leave you bracing icy cold winds, you will find central heating is widespread in most buildings. Beijing’s reputation for cold winters is matched only by its hot, humid summers when the average temperature in July is 26.5°C. Spring and autumn are comparatively short in Beijing, and locals recommend the months to enjoy this city at its best are in May, June, September, and October.

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Xi’an

Unlike its more serious counterpart Beijing, the city of lanterns, Xi'an weather enjoys fewer extremes and four distinct seasons. If you like moderation in all things, you’ll find Xi'an will meet your needs with its mild climate and moderate rainfall. Spring is warm, dry and windy; autumn is cool, and winter is cold and foggy (expect snow). The best time to visit Xi'an? Pack your bags to travel from April to June, and September to November.

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Shanghai

Trying to decide the best time to visit the oriental pearl, Shanghai? You can relax, knowing that without the extremes of other destinations in China, Shanghai provides plenty of options. With its subtropical monsoonal climate, you’ll discover a fairly even distribution of temperatures, regardless of when you visit. During summer, daily average temperatures are around 28.5°C. High-density city living and the volume of highrises limit the flow-through of cooler air during warmer months. If you melt in humidity, stay away in high summer! Although Shanghai’s winter is certainly milder than Beijing’s, a bitter northerly wind can be felt during the middle of the cold season. From a tourist’s perspective, Spring, which runs from March to May is the best time to visit Shanghai. Keep in mind though, if you plan to explore Shanghai from mid-June to early July, pack your umbrella and raincoat, because it’s the wettest time of the year. Incredibly, during this short period of just 20 days, Shanghai receives about a quarter of its annual rainfall. Think you’d prefer to catch the tail end of summer from the end of August to mid-September? You’ll need more than wet weather gear. This time of year is characterized by frequent typhoons, often with pouring rain and strong winds.

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Chengdu

The Sichuan Basin where Chengdu is located means this city is characteristically humid. Ironically, Chengdu is also home to the famous hot pot, so named because it is extremely hot and spicy. In contrast to Chengdu city’s humidity, the hills and plains which create the Sichuan Basin (the highest mountains are over 1,300 meters), means the weather at height is much cooler. Warmer weather is found in the west and cooler temperatures in the east. The simultaneous differences in temperature are reflected elsewhere in the surrounding mountains too, where the peaks are 2-3 °C cooler. In Chengdu, winter is short (it rarely snows) and the average daily temperature for most of the year is a very pleasant 16.4°C. Not only is this perfect for the most famous local residents, the giant pandas; it is ideal for foreign visitors too.

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Guangzhou

Guangzhou enjoys a subtropical climate, making it relatively hot and humid in summer and pleasantly mild in winter. Summer-like weather extends well beyond the three months from June to August. From May to October, temperatures in this bustling international hub often exceed the daily average of 30°C (86°F), so if you’re prone to wilting at the first sign of humidity, aim to visit Guangzhou in late autumn or through winter when temperatures are much more manageable, ranging between 10°C (50°F) and 21°C (70°F). Guangzhou’s location on the Tropic of Cancer means there is a rainy season. If you plan to travel any time between July and September, expect to use your wet weather gear as this is the time that rainfall peaks. While this climate has its drawbacks for those who aren’t fans of the heat, there is one major benefit. Guangzhou earned its nickname ‘Huacheng’ or flower city for the year-round proliferation of beautiful blooms.

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Dunhuang

Located at the far west end of the Hexi Corridor, Dunhuang is an important thoroughfare on the ancient Silk Road. With Sanwei Mountain in the east, Mingsha Mountain in the south, desert to the west, and the Taklimakan, and Gobi to the north, Dunhuang is connected to the Tianshan Mountains. The unique mix of elevation, together with the desert oasis environment provides the setting for extreme temperature variation. On any given day while exploring on a Dunhuang tour, you can find yourself scorched by daytime highs of 40°C and freezing at night in sub-zero lows. If you’re ‘unlucky’ enough to find yourself in Dunhuang on a day that it rains, you needn’t be concerned. There is an average of just 21 rainy days each year during which very little rain falls (a mere 42 millimeters!). The good thing is, this hot, dry climate is perfect for preservation - and it’s the very reason the world-famous Mogao Caves, displaying arguably the finest collection of Buddhist art, have survived in such pristine condition for over a thousand years. The caves alone, which are rich in history, scholarship, and art are worth the visit, so be sure to time your arrival so it coincides with a time of year when the heat is most manageable, namely from May to October.

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Guilin

A place of quintessentially Chinese natural beauty, Guilin is synonymous with the osmanthus flowers (Guihua) and karst stone mountains that are found in proximity to the city and along the Li River to Yangshuo. Guilin also has a reputation for its favorable climate, which was praised by the poet Du Fu from the Tang Dynasty who claimed "All the five ridges are hot, but only Guilin is pleasant". It snows infrequently in Guilin and the weather is ideal for all year round blooming of flowers. With an average low of 9℃ and an average high of 28℃, it’s easy to understand why Guilin held such appeal historically and still does today. Due to its more temperate climate, humidity is a factor in Guilin, however, it is definitely a city that can be visited all year round. Just remember to bring an umbrella if you’re planning to travel in spring because this is when most rain falls.

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Lhasa

Lhasa is a destination that is aptly named ‘Sunshine City’. The small temperature variations throughout the year, but frequently large changes in daily temperatures, makes Lhasa unique among the list of best places to visit in China. Located in the middle of the Tibet Plateau on the north side of the Himalayas at an altitude of 3,650 meters Lhasa sits in the plain of the middle valley of the Lhasa River. As you’d expect with a place that seems to almost touch the clouds, it can get very cold. Expect sub-zero temperatures. In fact, locals say that Lhasa enjoys ‘four seasons in a day and a cold winter throughout the year’. This is the ever-practical Tibetans dress as they do. The traditional robe allows the wearer to remove it from one shoulder during the day to stay cool, and then reposition as the sun goes down to stay warm.

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Hong Kong

Many travelers take advantage of Hong Kong’s convenience as a travel thoroughfare and why not? Certainly, Hong Kong’s climate lends itself to a visit on route to China. With a mild average annual temperature of 22.8°C that belies the heat and humidity of Hong Kong’s summer, you may want to time your transit through Hong Kong to avoid the warmer months between May to September. During this peak period, there are significant rainfalls and typhoons, both of which can detract from your holiday experience, so best to time your holiday in Hong Kong with the arrival of autumn from September to November. It’s when you’ll find there is plenty of sunshine balanced by balmy breezes that come in from the Pacific Ocean.

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Want to know more about the weather in China? Work through the pages of our Travel Guide and find everything you need to know about visiting China. Discover helpful information on related topics, including China visas, things to do in China, food, culture, and more. As a China travel agent that’s been operating well over a year - and survived the impact of COVID-19, we’re more committed than ever to helping our customers discover and experience real China. We understand that your once-in-a-lifetime trip to China starts well before departure, that’s why we provide useful information about important details on topics like the weather in China to help make your China vacation as enjoyable as possible.

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Dennis Yip wrote a review Written 3 November 2024

Singapore

Exceptional Experience with ChinaTours!

We recently booked a private family vacation with ChinaTours.com for a week-long adventure in Xi'an and Luoyang, and it was nothing short of exceptional! The itinerary was perfectly crafted, allowing sufficient time to explore the iconic sites like the Terracotta Warriors and the breathtaking Longmen Grottoes and many more. Kudos to Ms. Lora of ChinaTours, everything was tailored to our interests, allowing us to explore hidden gems and local favourites. Our English-speaking guides, Felix (方洪杰) for Xi'an & Shirley (周丹丹) for Luoyang, were very knowledgeable and engaging, making history come alive for us. They were not only knowledgeable but also passionate about their cities, sharing stories and insights that enriched our experience beyond the typical tourist narratives. We had the opportunity to witness a few spectacular and mesmerizing cultural and historical performances at a grandeur scale, which added a personal touch to our understanding of the culture and history. The guides were very accommodating in the dining options, which allowed us to savour the delicious local cuisines of the Shaanxi and Henan provinces. The seamless transportation via the minivan and high-speed trains added to our travel experience, making everything relaxing and stress-free. ChinaTours truly thought of everything to ensure our family had an unforgettable trip in China. We highly recommend ChinaTours to anyone looking for a seamless and memorable visit to China!

Date of experience: Oct 2024 • Family
Excursion06754325819 wrote a review Written 31 October 2024

Perfect trip in every way

This was a perfect trip in every way. Beautiful hotels, wonderful guides and drivers, sightseeing with explanations! I chose a private tour and the entire 3 week trip was exceptional . The itinerary was adjusted due to weather or unique museums exhibitions! All the hotels were excellent - clean ,modern and great locations with breakfast. New cars and excellent drivers. China Tours is my first choice as an exceptional tour company. They are number one! Very personalize travel , attention to detail and available 24/7. I will rebook with them!

Date of experience: Oct 2024 • Solo
Robert N wrote a review Written 28 October 2024

China Tours review

If you’re going to China on a vacation, China Tours is the Company you must go with. Their tour guides are knowledgeable, efficient, courteous, and giving. The itinerary we chose was amazing and we were guided through the entire trip by these wonderful tour guides. They were always on time and greeted you with a smile. Once again, I highly recommend China Tours.😊👍😁🤩

Date of experience: Oct 2024 • Friends
norm T wrote a review Written 28 October 2024

China trip dated August 27, – September 16, 2024, seven cities in 3 weeks

China Tours did an excellent job of accommodating and coordinating the necessary paperwork, tickets, guides, setting up WeChat for direct communications such that I could communicate with my guides prior to my arrival, etc. for me to enjoy a relaxing adventure filled with new information. Regarding the guides, each one is very special, they are open to questions. Willing to adjust schedules, share personal information that we can compare to my western experience. Have a sense of humor about them, explain changes that need to be made, and each shares a perspective of China and its 5,000-year-old history and how it is a nation of tribes that work together resulting amazing functional society with the most sophisticated infrastructure the world has ever seen. China can be proud of each guide; each is an asset for changing the wests perspective and embracing all that China is doing to improve the world. I congratulate each of you for your dedication and work ethic to make my experience one I will always appreciate.

Date of experience: Aug 2024 • Solo
deblau59 wrote a review 26 October 2024

Fantastic Trip Down Memory Lane

Excellent Taiwan tour from China Travels. We found this company on the web and was super pleased with the communications and arrangements through Martha. I was traveling with my sister and 10 friends who had previously lived in Taiwan so we wanted to revisit our childhood. We started in Taipei, then went to Sun Moon Lake, Alishan and Tainan. Taroko Gorge was on our list due to the earthquake damage from last year, we changed places. Our tour guide, Cathy Lin, was great as she added some activities and places to our itinerary that were hidden gems. Very responsive to our needs throughout the tour. My friends were super pleased with the trip. Highly recommend for future travel arrangements.

Date of experience: Oct 2024 • Friends
kraig l wrote a review 7 October 2024

A Day in Xi’an with Cathy

I really enjoyed my recent private tour with China Tours! I remembered I took a China Tours about 13 years ago in Beijing and since I had a long weekend during a recent business trip, I decided to take the chance on them again and booked on-line. Working with Martha via email on short notice and right before the National Holiday, she was able to arrange a 1-day private trip for me to the Terracotta Warriors, Mosque, and the Xi'an Wall with Cathy K. as my tour guide. Even before my tour began, Cathy reached out to me and gave suggested a few sites to visit in the city the afternoon I arrived.
Morning of, pick up time was confirmed via WeChat and Cathy picked me up in a nice minivan and was escorted all day by a VERY knowledgeable tour guide in Cathy. She knew the tour well, the sites visited and their history, shared many welcoming stories and information. Her English was almost perfect and welcoming after a long business trip. More importantly, she knew her city well and made several great food recommendations - local lunch was amazing and so were the pomegranates! She even helped me purchase some jade necklaces as gifts.
Although it rained all day long, Cathy kept the tour upbeat and engaging - cannot say that about my sneakers that did not make the trip home.
The next day, Cathy went the extra mile by making sure I made it to the airport and my flight chatting me Chinese phrases for both the taxi driver and check in counter to ensure if needed I would not miss my flight.
I would like to give a BIG "XIE XIE" to CATHY K - an outstanding tour guide (and food connoisseur)! I very much enjoyed my day (wishing I had longer) and look forward to my return and another China Tours tour with hopefully Cathy K again.

Date of experience: Sept 2024 • Solo

China weather