Skip to main content

 Climates to travel
 World climate guide
 
 
 Home
 Africa
 N.America
 S.America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 M.East
 Oceania
 All the countries
 Home
 Africa
 N.America
 S.America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 M.East
 Oceania
 All the countries

Climate - China


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - China

Map - China

You are here: Home --> Asia --> China



In the People's Republic of China, a huge country in East Asia, there are different types of climate. In short, we have the following climate zones:
- continental, with very cold winters and hot, rainy summers in the north-east (Manchuria), and in Beijing (although here the winters are a little less cold).
- continental desert in the northwest (Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia).
- cold desert or semi-desert in the plateau of Tibet.
-temperate in the center (see Shanghai), with mild winters and hot, rainy summers.
- subtropical in the south (see Canton, Hong Kong), with very mild winters and hot, rainy summers, and tropical in the extreme south (see Hainan).
Winter is freezing cold in the north, in the mountains and the plateaus, where the average January temperature is below -10 °C (14 °F), and is mild in the south, where it reaches or exceeds 15 °C (59 °F).

Summer is hot everywhere, except in highlands and high mountains. If we exclude the vast western desert areas, where rainfall is scarce and irregular, summer is the rainiest season due to the Asian monsoon, which brings humid currents from the sea. The rainiest part of the country is the south-east, where rainfall is equal to or higher than 1,500 millimeters (60 inches) per year, while the least rainy is the north-west, where it is below 100 mm (4 in).

Index


  • North-east - Harbin, Shenyang
  • Deserts - Turpan Depression, Ürümqi
  • Mountains - Yunnan
  • Continental climate - Beijing
  • Temperate climate - Shanghai
  • The south - Guangzhou
  • Typhoons

North-east



Northeastern China
The north-eastern part of China, called Manchuria, has a markedly continental climate, with frigid, dry winters and hot, rainy summers. The winter monsoon brings cold air masses from nearby Siberia, while the summer monsoon brings warm and moist air masses from the south; in fact, the summer, from June to August, is the only season when there are significant rains. The rains are quite frequent also in May and September, though not abundant. Rainfall, or rather snowfall given the temperatures, is definitely scarce in the long cold season.
Winter in this area is very cold, since the average January temperature is below -10 °C (14 °F), and even below -20 °C (-4 °F) in the northern part. Cold records are around -40 °C (-40 °F).
In Harbin, a metropolis of ten million inhabitants, the average January temperature is -17 °C (1 °F). The temperature remains below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) even during the day approximately from mid-November to mid-March. In winter, the sky is often clear. However, given the low temperatures, the low amount of snow that falls doesn't melt, so the winter landscape is usually covered with snow. Owing to the cold, the sculptures of the "Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival", which is held every year in January, are preserved for weeks. Here are the average temperatures of Harbin.
Harbin - Average temperatures (2000-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-22-12-17.2-8101.1
February-18-7-12.30209.9
March-83-2.3183827.8
April2148365746.3
May102215.9507160.6
June162721.6628070.9
July202823.8678374.9
August182722.4648072.2
September112216.4517261.5
October2137.4365545.3
November-90-4.4163224.2
December-19-10-14.8-2135.4
Year0.410.65.4532.75142

In spring, the temperature rises rapidly, and summer is a warm season, but it's also rainy: in July, 165 millimeters (6.5 inches) of rain fall, and relative humidity is high. In the hottest days, when it doesn't rain, the temperature can reach 35 °C (95 °F). Here is the average precipitation.
Harbin - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January40.21
February60.21
March170.73
April2513
May451.87
June903.59
July1656.510
August1204.711
September552.27
October351.45
November150.62
December80.32
Year5852361

Further south, in Shenyang, a city of eight million inhabitants, the temperature ranges from -11.5 °C (11.5 °F) in January to 25 °C (77 °F) in July. Here too, winter is quite sunny, while summer is humid and rainy.
Shenyang - Average temperatures (1992-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-18-5-11.702211
February-120-6.4103120.5
March-471.8264535.2
April51710.7416251.3
May122317.8547464
June182722.4648172.4
July212925708577.1
August192823.8678374.9
September122418.3547564.9
October41610.1396150.1
November-550234132
December-14-3-8.762616.3
Year3.314.18.6537.957.347.5

In the northernmost part of Manchuria, near the border with Siberia, summer is cooler, in fact the average in July drops below 20 °C (68 °F). Winters are even colder, so much so that the average in January approaches -30 °C (-22 °F), and the coldest records are about -50 °C (-58 °F), as we can see from the average temperatures of Tahe.
Tahe - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-36-21-28.5-33-6-19.3
February-33-15-24-275-11.2
March-23-5-14-9236.8
April-86-1184330.2
May0168326146.4
June62214437257.2
July102316.5507361.7
August82114.5467058.1
September1147.5345745.5
October-104-3143926.6
November-25-11-18-1312-0.4
December-33-20-26.5-27-4-15.7
Year-11.82.9-4.4510.837.324

The desert



China - Climate of desert

Nearly half of China is arid or desert, including Tibet, which, however, has a peculiar climate. The desert belt begins north-west of Beijing, at no great distance from the capital (so it's no surprise that at times the same capital is hit by dust storms), and it extends westward, covering almost all of the Inner Mongolia, where we find the Chinese side of the Gobi desert, and then further to the west, in the areas at low or middle altitudes of Xinjiang and Gansu, where we find Taklamakan (or Taklimakan), a huge sand desert.
The climate in this area is strongly continental, with freezing winters and hot summers, sometimes scorching, especially at lower altitudes, although it should be noted that this area is mostly occupied by plateaus, around 800/1,200 meters (2,600/4,000 feet) above sea level, where the summer heat, though still present, it's tempered by the altitude. Sunshine is frequent throughout the year. The wind is often strong, and storms can occur in winter and spring.

Taklamakan

In Kashgar, an oasis along the ancient Silk Road, located at 1,300 meters (4,250 feet) above sea level, the temperature ranges from -5 °C (23 °F) in January to 25 °C (77 °F) in July, when days are sometimes scorching despite the altitude, while nights are usually pleasant. In a year, only 60 millimeters (2.4 in) of rain (or snow in winter) fall, with a greater chance in summer.
Below 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), the temperature can reach 40 °C (104 °F) in summer.
The hottest area is the Turpan (or Turfan) Depression, which is also the hottest place in China. It is small area at sea level (or even below, hence the name depression), where winter is freezing, but summer is hot, since daytime temperatures usually hover around 39/40 °C (102/104 °F) from June to August, with peaks of 45 °C (113 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Turpan - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-10-2-6.3132820.7
February-471.8264535.2
March61811.9436453.4
April142821588269.7
May203426.8689380.2
June253931.77610289.1
July264033.48010592.1
August253931.87610289.2
September183325.5659177.9
October92215.7487260.3
November0105.3335141.5
December-80-4183124.8
Year10.222.316.2550.472.261

Urumqi, a city of three million inhabitants, located at 850 meters (2,800 ft) above sea level, is the large city in the world farthest from the sea, which lies 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) away. Here, the average temperature ranges from -14 °C (7 °F) in January to 25 °C (77 °F) in July; in summer, it can sometimes exceed 40 °C (104 °F), while in winter it can plunge to -30 °C (-22 °F). Owing to its proximity to the Tian Shan Range, precipitation is more frequent than in other places of the area, but it remains scarce because of the low moisture available, and it doesn't reach 300 mm (12 in) per year.
Urumqi - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-18-10-140146.8
February-14-6-9.772214.5
March-351.2274134.2
April81813.1466555.5
May142419.2577666.6
June193024.5678576.1
July213126.2708879.2
August193024.6678676.3
September132418.9567665.9
October51510.2425950.3
November-43-0.4253831.2
December-14-7-10.671912.9
Year4.113.38.6539.455.947.5

In the north-west, north of Urumqi and between Mongolia and Kazakhstan, we find Dzungaria, which has a frigid winter, with averages ranging between -10 °C and -20 °C (14 and -4 °F), while summer becomes progressively cooler as you proceed towards the border with Russia. In Altay, 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, the daily average temperature ranges from -16 °C (3 °F) in January to 20 °C (68 °F) in July.

Mountains



China - climate of the mountains
In China, there are several mountain ranges. We have not shown those of Tibet in the map because most of them have the same climate of Tibet itself. Among the mountainous areas, we have to distinguish between two main zones: the chains of the western part (inside the burgundy area in the left, where the Himalayas are also found), and those of the south-east (Yunnan, in the black circle at the bottom) which, owing to both the southern latitude and the lower altitude, have a much milder climate, so we can define them as "warm mountains".
Along the western and the southern borders of China, there are several mountain ranges: Tian Shan, Pamir, Karakoram, Himalaya, while north of Tibet we find Kunlun Shan. Clearly, the temperatures vary according to latitude and altitude.
In Akqi, located at 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level, in the northwest and near the border with Kyrgyzstan, the average temperature ranges from -8 °C (18 °F) in January to 19 °C (66 °F) in July. This shows how strongly the Asian continent warms up in summer even at high altitudes.
The two world's highest mountains are located in China: Mount Everest, on the border with Nepal, and K2, on the border with Pakistan. On the top of Mount Everest, the average temperature ranges from -36 °C (-33 °F) in January to -19 °C (-2 °F) in July; the cold record is about -60 °C (-76 °F). The temperature never exceeds the melting point. From June to September, the summer monsoon brings clouds and snow showers. In winter, from November to February, the western jet stream moves to a lower latitude and reaches this area, bringing hurricane-intensity winds, of more than 250 kph (155 mph), but strong winds are also possible in spring and autumn.
In the province of Yunnan, the "warm mountains" have a definitely more pleasant climate. In Kunming, 1,900 meters (6,200 ft) above sea level, the average ranges from 9.5 °C (49.5 °F) in January to almost 21 °C (69.5 °F) in June and July; therefore, the climate is temperate, even though the winter nights can be cold. Here are the average temperatures in Kunming.
Kunming - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January3169.5376149.1
February51811.5406552.7
March82214.7467158.5
April112417.7527663.8
May142519.6577767.2
June162520.9627769.5
July172520.7627669.3
August162520.5617769
September152319587466.1
October122116.4537061.4
November71912.7456554.9
December3169.6386049.3
Year10.621.616.055170.961

Rainfall in Kunming amounts to 1,000 mm (40 in) per year, the bulk of which occurring in summer. Here is the average precipitation.
Kunming - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January2515
February150.65
March200.87
April301.28
May903.513
June1756.918
July2258.922
August1857.321
September1204.716
October853.315
November301.27
December150.65
Year101540142

In the far south, on the border with Burma, Laos and Vietnam, the climate is sub-tropical even at an altitude between 1,000 and 1,500 meters (3,300 and 4,900 feet): winter is mild, while summer is hot and humid, with heavy rains.

Continental climate



Continental climate
This central-eastern area, which includes cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Lanzhou, Baotou, and Hohhot, has a continental climate, although not as extreme as in the north-east. Winters are very cold, the average temperatures in January ranging from -10 °C to 0 °C (14 °F to 32 °F); dust-laden winds can blow from the desert of Mongolia, while snowfalls are relatively rare. Summer is hot and muggy, and it's the only rainy season, while in the other seasons, the sun usually shines. Annual precipitation ranges from 300 to 700 millimeters (12 to 27.5 in), and it's more abundant near the sea.
In the capital, Beijing, winter is cold: the average in January is -3.5 °C (26 °F), while summer is hot and muggy, with an average in July of 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Beijing - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-92-3.3163626.1
February-660.1214332.2
March0136.7325644
April82114.3467057.8
May142720.4568168.8
June193124.9668876.8
July223226.9728980.4
August213125.8698878.5
September152720.8598069.4
October71913.2456755.8
November-1104.5305040.1
December-74-1.6193929.1
Year6.918.712.7544.465.655

Precipitation amounts to 570 mm (23 in), concentrated in the summer months. Here is the average precipitation.
Beijing - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January30.12
February50.22
March100.43
April2515
May401.66
June75310
July1706.713
August1204.711
September552.28
October2515
November130.53
December20.12
Year54521.569

Near Beijing, in Beidaihe, the sea is very cold in winter, while it is warm enough for swimming from July to September, as we can see in the following table.
Beidaihe - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January439
February337
March439
April745
May1254
June1864
July2373
August2577
September2373
October1966
November1457
December846
Year13.456.1

North-west of Beijing, along the course of the Yellow River (Huang He), there are two cities, both at the northern edge of this area, beyond which the desert is found: Baotou and Hohhot, respectively, the largest city and the capital of Inner Mongolia. Both are located at 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, and they are very cold in winter, also because of altitude, in fact the average temperature in January is around -10 °C (14 °F). Summer is hot, though a little less than in Beijing, the July average being 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). The summer rains are not as abundant as in Beijing, in fact they are around 80/100 mm (3.1/4 in) per month in July and August, so precipitation amounts to only 300 mm (12 in) per year. Here are the average temperatures of Baotou.
Baotou - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-17-4-10.512513.1
February-130-6.593220.3
March-681214633.8
April2179.5366349.1
May92416.5487561.7
June142821578269.8
July173023.5638674.3
August152721598169.8
September92215.5487259.9
October1158345946.4
November-75-1194130.2
December-14-2-872817.6
Year0.914.27.5533.657.645.5

Every now and then, this area, especially in the part closest to the sea, can be affected by typhoons or their remains. Typhoons occur in summer and early autumn, and are more common in the southern areas (see below).

On the border between this area and the next and milder area, we find a few cities where the average January temperature is around freezing, such as Xi'an, Jinan and Qingdao

Temperate climate



Temperate climate
In the central area of China, the climate is milder in winter, since the average temperature in January is between 0 and 10 °C (32 and 50 °F), while summer is hotter and longer. In addition to the higher temperature, both cloudiness and rainfall increase throughout the year. The rainfall hovers between 1,000 and 1,600 mm (40 to 63 in) per year, also because the summer monsoon lasts longer than in the north. Along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River (or Chang Jiang), we find several large cities with a similar climate, such as Wuhan, Nanchang, Nanjing (Nanking), Hangzhou, and Shanghai.
In Shanghai, winter is certainly milder than in Beijing, but it's still pretty cool, since the average temperature in January is 5 °C (41 °F). Unlike in Beijing, the sky in winter is often cloudy, and the rains are quite frequent, though not abundant. Summer, from June to September, is hot and muggy, with abundant rainfall. July and August are the hottest months, with a daily averages of 29/29.5 °C (84/85 °F), and despite the proximity to the sea, in a city so large and full of skyscrapers, the urban heat island effect is evident, and the breeze is not so effective in cooling the air.
Here are the average temperatures.
Shanghai - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January284.9354740.9
February3106.8385144.3
March71410.8455851.5
April132016.5556961.7
May182621.7647871.1
June222825.1728377.2
July263329.5799185.1
August263229.2799084.5
September222825.1718377.2
October162319.7617467.5
November101713.7506356.7
December4117.3395245.2
Year14.121.117.5557.37063.5

Precipitation amounts to 1,100 mm (43 in) per year, with a maximum in summer. Here is the average precipitation.
Shanghai - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January75310
February602.49
March953.712
April75311
May843.310
June1807.113
July1455.711
August2158.512
September853.39
October552.27
November5028
December451.88
Year116545.9121

In Shanghai, the sea is warmer than in the north, and it's warm enough for swimming from July to September, while it is a bit cool in June and October.
Shanghai - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January947
February745
March847
April1253
May1762
June2271
July2678
August2781
September2578
October2272
November1864
December1355
Year17.162.9

In Chongqing, located south of Shanghai and very far from the sea, winter is milder than in Shanghai, since the average in January is 8 °C (46.5 °F), and it's also less rainy, but cloudiness is even more frequent, so much so that the sky is almost always overcast. Summer is even more hot and muggy: there is no relief on summer nights, when temperatures do not drop below 24/25 °C (75/77 °F). Moreover, here and across southern China, the monsoon rains begin earlier, with a peak in May and June, and last until October.

In summer, this area can be reached by typhoons, the tropical cyclones of South-East Asia, which originate in the Pacific Ocean, and then reach Southeast Asia, penetrating a few hundred kilometers (or miles) inland, although their effects are more remarkable on coastal regions. Typhoons can bring strong winds and torrential rains.

The south



Climate of southern China
In the southern part of China (Guangxi region, Guangdong and Fujian provinces, as well as Hong Kong and Macau), winter is very mild, so much so that the average temperature in January is above 10 °C (50 °F), while there's a long, tropical summer. Annual precipitation is between 1,200 and 2,000 millimeters (47 and 79 inches), with a winter minimum and a summer maximum; during the warm season, rainfall occurs mostly in the form of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening, while it can occur in the form of long and torrential rains when the area is hit by typhoons. The sun does not shine very often.
In Fuzhou, the summer, with highs equal to or higher than 28 °C (82 °F), lasts five months, from mid-May to mid-October, while in Shenzhen, it lasts six months, from May to October.
In Guangzhou (Canton), the summer goes from May to October as well. Here are the average temperatures.
Guangzhou - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January101914.2506657.6
February122015.8536860.5
March152218.5597265.4
April192722.8668073.1
May233026.4738679.6
June253228.6779083.4
July263429.7789385.4
August253429.5779385
September243228.1759082.6
October203025698577
November162520.6607869
December112115.8526960.5
Year18.727.222.965.780.973

The rainiest period in the south is from April to September, while in October the rains decrease sharply, even though it's still warm. At these southern latitudes, the wettest period is not in the May-June period (as was the case of the area located south of Shanghai), but it is prolonged throughout the long summer: in Guangzhou, rainfall exceeds 230 mm (9 mm) per month from May to August.
Here is the average precipitation in Guangzhou.
Guangzhou - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January451.88
February652.611
March853.315
April1807.116
May28511.218
June26010.219
July2309.116
August2208.716
September1706.713
October803.17
November401.66
December2515
Year168566.3150

The sea at the latitude of Guangzhou, and therefore at the Tropic, is never cold, even though it gets a little cool from December to March, while it is definitely warm in summer.
Shantou - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2068
February2068
March2271
April2374
May2678
June2781
July2883
August2883
September2882
October2679
November2475
December2170
Year24.576.1

In the far south, the island of Hainan has a quasi-tropical climate in the northern part, and tropical in the southern part, since in January it is crossed by the 20 °C (68 °F) isotherm.

Typhoons



As mentioned above, the eastern and southern parts of China can be hit by typhoons. The provinces most often affected are those of the southern coast (Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Zhejiang, as well as Hong Kong and Macau). In contrast, the southwestern provinces (Yunnan, Sichuan) may be affected by the remains of cyclones coming from the Bay of Bengal, which can still bring abundant rains, even though this happens more rarely.
The south-east is also the region where the typhoon season is longer. They usually reach this area from June to early November, but they sometimes affected this area outside of this period, especially in recent years, probably because of global warming. For example, this happened with typhoon Neoguri, which affected Hainan and Guangdong in mid-April 2008, and typhoon Chanchu, which hit Guangdong and southwestern Fujian in May 2006, and then moved to the north-east and reached as far as Shanghai.
In the following image, we can see the areas that have been affected by typhoons in the period 1950-2005 (the points refer to the eye of the cyclone, so the affected area is larger).

Typhons in China

The central and northern provinces, still in the eastern part, are generally affected by typhoons moving northwards, towards the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea, from July to September (and more rarely in the second half of June and in early October). Typically, typhoons weaken as they move north. So, Beijing is affected much more rarely and less intensely than Shanghai, and Shanghai more rarely than Hainan and Guangdong.
Sometimes, typhoons can penetrate inland for a few hundred kilometers (or miles), while they never reach the western part of the country, which is too far from the sea.

Up

When to go and what to pack in China

© Copyright Climatestotravel.com. 

Back to Asia

All the countries


Share this page:
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Email

 See also (cities or regions):

 Beijing
 Changchun
 Changsha
 Chengdu
 Chongqing
 Dalian
 Fuzhou
 Ganzhou
 Guangdong
 Others (expand)
 Guangzhou
 Guilin
 Guiyang
 Haikou
 Hainan
 Hami
 Hangzhou
 Harbin
 Hefei
 Hotan
 Jinan
 Jiuquan
 Kashgar
 Kunming
 Lanzhou
 Lhasa
 Nanchang
 Nanjing
 Nanning
 Nanyang
 Ningbo
 Qingdao
 Qiqihar
 Shanghai
 Shantou
 Shenyang
 Shenzhen
 Taiyuan
 Tianjin
 Tibet
 Turpan
 Urumqi
 Wuhan
 Xiamen
 Xian
 Xining
 Yanan
 Yinchuan
 Yining
 Zhanjiang
 Zhengzhou

 Nearby countries:

 Afghanistan
 Bhutan
 Burma
 Hong Kong
 India
 Japan
 Kazakhstan
 Kyrgyzstan
 Laos
 Macau
 Mongolia
 Nepal
 North Korea
 Pakistan
 Philippines
 Siberia
 South Korea
 Taiwan
 Tajikistan
 Vietnam

 Continents:
 Africa
 North America
 South America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 Middle East
 Oceania

 Search in the website:


Home About Contact Us Link Policy
Home
About
Contact Us
Link
Policy