The ancient city of the Silk Road is located at 39 degrees north latitude, in northwest China, in Xinjiang, the autonomous region of northwest China, at 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) above sea level, and on the western edge of the Taklimakan desert.
To the north, along the border with Kyrgyzstan are the Tian Shan mountains, while to the west, on the border with Tajikistan, is the eastern part of the Pamir, whose highest peak, Kongur Tagh, is 7,649 meters (25,095 feet) high.
is dry and sunny. Even though the temperatures are low, snowfalls are rare. During the most intense cold spells, the temperature can drop to -15 °C (5 °F) or even below.
In January-February 2008, there were eight days in a row with a minimum temperature below -20 °C (-4 °F). In that period, the Taklimakan Desert was covered entirely by a thin layer of snow for the first time.
, there are relatively rainy periods, in which the humidity is higher, and some thunderstorms can break out, usually of short duration, or even with thunder but without rain, and dry periods, in which it can get very hot but the humidity decreases.
The best times to visit Kashgar are spring and autumn, to avoid the winter cold and summer heat, and in particular the months of May and September. However, it can sometimes get hot even in these months.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-5.2 °C, with a minimum of
-10.5 °C and a maximum of
0 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-15 °C. However, it dropped to
-22.3 °C in January 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8.5 °C. However, it reached
18.9 °C in January 2000.
Precipitation amounts to only
2.7 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
5.9 kph.
February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.4 °C, with a minimum of
-5.1 °C and a maximum of
5.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-11 °C. However, it dropped to
-22 °C in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14 °C. However, it reached
19.8 °C in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.7 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is of
7 kph.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.8 °C, with a minimum of
3 °C and a maximum of
14.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-10 °C in March 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
29.2 °C in March 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
7.2 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is of
8.8 kph.
April is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
15.9 °C, with a minimum of
9.3 °C and a maximum of
22.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.6 °C in April 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
34.8 °C in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.1 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 30%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
10.9 kph.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20 °C, with a minimum of
13.6 °C and a maximum of
26.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C. However, it dropped to
3.9 °C in May 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
35 °C in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
11.2 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 33%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
11.7 kph.
June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
23.7 °C, with a minimum of
17.2 °C and a maximum of
30.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
8.3 °C in June 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
38.2 °C in June 2005.
Precipitation amounts to only
9.1 mm, distributed over 4 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 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
12.1 kph.
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
25.5 °C, with a minimum of
19 °C and a maximum of
31.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
11.2 °C in July 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36.5 °C. However, it reached
39.4 °C in July 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only
9.2 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 36%.
The average wind speed is of
10.9 kph.
August is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24.1 °C, with a minimum of
17.8 °C and a maximum of
30.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
9.4 °C in August 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
39.2 °C in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to only
7.7 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is of
9.9 kph.
September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
19.8 °C, with a minimum of
13.2 °C and a maximum of
26.4 °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 September 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
34 °C in September 1993.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.3 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is of
8.9 kph.
October is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
13.1 °C, with a minimum of
6.1 °C and a maximum of
20.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.8 °C in October 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
30.9 °C in October 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.5 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is of
8.1 kph.
November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5 °C, with a minimum of
-1.2 °C and a maximum of
11.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6 °C. However, it dropped to
-11 °C in November 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20.5 °C. However, it reached
25.2 °C in November 2006.
Precipitation amounts to only
2.1 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is of
6.9 kph.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.7 °C, with a minimum of
-7.4 °C and a maximum of
2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12 °C. However, it dropped to
-19 °C in December 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
11 °C. However, it reached
19.2 °C in December 2008.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.6 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 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
6 kph.