The city is located in the north of China, at almost 40 degrees north latitude and 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above sea level, in the northwest of the Gansu province. A short distance away are the Jiayuguan Fort (or Jiayu Pass), where the westernmost lookout tower of the Great Wall is located, and the nearby city of Jiayuguan.
We are in the southern part of the Gobi desert, which is limited to the south by the Qilian mountains, with peaks that exceed 5,000 meters (16,400 feet).
is dry and sunny. Even though the temperatures are low, snowfalls are rare. During the most intense cold spells, the temperature can drop to around -25 °C (-13 °F).
In January 2008, the average minimum temperature was -19.8 °C (-3.6 °F), while in December 1991, the temperature dropped to -30 °C (-22 °F).
is hot and sunny, however, it is the relatively rainiest season of the year. In fact, there may be some periods in which some thunderstorms can break out, and some cool days, with highs below 20 °C (68 °F). In good weather, on the other hand, it can get very hot.
To visit Jiuquan you can choose the period from mid-May to mid-September. In July and August, temperatures are generally acceptable, but it can get very hot at times.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
-8.7 °C, with a minimum of
-15.5 °C and a maximum of
-2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-21.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-27.8 °C in January 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6 °C. However, it reached
15.8 °C in January 2014.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is of
6.8 kph.
February is generally a very cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
-3.8 °C, with a minimum of
-10.8 °C and a maximum of
3.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-18 °C. However, it dropped to
-24.6 °C in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
11.5 °C. However, it reached
16.6 °C in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.3 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is of
7.8 kph.
March is generally a cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
3.1 °C, with a minimum of
-3.8 °C and a maximum of
10.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12 °C. However, it dropped to
-25.7 °C in March 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
25.2 °C in March 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.9 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 36%.
The average wind speed is of
8.9 kph.
April is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
10.5 °C, with a minimum of
3.2 °C and a maximum of
17.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-9.8 °C in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
31.7 °C in April 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 29%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
10.6 kph.
May is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
15.8 °C, with a minimum of
8.5 °C and a maximum of
23.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.8 °C in May 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
34.4 °C in May 2014.
Precipitation amounts to only
7.8 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 32%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
9.2 kph.
June is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
20.4 °C, with a minimum of
13.3 °C and a maximum of
27.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5.2 °C in June 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
34.7 °C in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
14.3 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is of
8.1 kph.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
22.2 °C, with a minimum of
15.1 °C and a maximum of
29.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
8.4 °C in July 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
38.7 °C in July 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is of
7.4 kph.
August is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
20.5 °C, with a minimum of
13.3 °C and a maximum of
27.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
4.7 °C in August 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
37.7 °C in August 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is of
7.2 kph.
September is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
15.4 °C, with a minimum of
7.9 °C and a maximum of
22.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.7 °C in September 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
33 °C in September 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
10.7 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is of
6.9 kph.
October is generally a quite mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
8.4 °C, with a minimum of
1.1 °C and a maximum of
15.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-8.9 °C in October 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
26.7 °C in October 2008.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.9 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is of
7.1 kph.
November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.6 °C, with a minimum of
-5.8 °C and a maximum of
7.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-20.6 °C in November 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
19.4 °C in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only
2 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is of
7.3 kph.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-6.9 °C, with a minimum of
-13.3 °C and a maximum of
-0.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-29.8 °C in December 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8 °C. However, it reached
12.5 °C in December 1991.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is of
6.7 kph.