The city is the capital of the province of Qinghai and is located at 36 degrees north latitude, at 2,250 meters (7,400 feet) above sea level, in the north of the
plateau, of which it is the most populous city. To the west is Lake Qinghai (Blue Lake, or Koko Nor), at an altitude of 3,200 meters (10,500 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 -20 °C (-4 °F). The cold record of the last decades is -25 °C (-13 °F), set in December 1975.
is the only season to experience significant rains. Rainy days can be cool, with temperatures below 20 °C (68 °F). In periods of good weather, the temperature can reach 28/30 °C (82/86 °F). Sometimes there can even be heat waves, with highs of 35 °C (95 °F), even if the temperature drops a lot at night.
The best time to visit Xining goes from May to September, as it is the mildest of the year. However, sometimes it can get cold at night, especially in May and September. July and August are the wettest months, but it is less likely for it to get cold at night.
. 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
-6.5 °C, with a minimum of
-14.9 °C and a maximum of
1.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-20 °C. However, it dropped to
-23.8 °C in January 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9.5 °C. However, it reached
15.7 °C in January 2014.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.8 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is of
3.5 kph.
February is generally a very cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
-2.6 °C, with a minimum of
-10.8 °C and a maximum of
5.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-16.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-20.7 °C in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14 °C. However, it reached
20.8 °C in February 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only
2.1 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is of
4.6 kph.
March is generally a cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
2.9 °C, with a minimum of
-4.8 °C and a maximum of
10.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-16.9 °C in March 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
26.7 °C in March 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only
8.5 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is of
5.7 kph.
April is generally a quite mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
8.5 °C, with a minimum of
0.8 °C and a maximum of
16.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-8.8 °C in April 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
31.8 °C in April 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is of
6.1 kph.
May is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
12.2 °C, with a minimum of
4.9 °C and a maximum of
19.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.9 °C in May 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
31 °C in May 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is of
5.4 kph.
June is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
15.6 °C, with a minimum of
8.6 °C and a maximum of
22.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
0.6 °C in June 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
31.4 °C in June 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 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 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is of
4.5 kph.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
17.7 °C, with a minimum of
10.9 °C and a maximum of
24.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
4.6 °C in July 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
36.5 °C in July 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 15 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 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of
4 kph.
August is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
17.2 °C, with a minimum of
10.6 °C and a maximum of
23.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
3.2 °C in August 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
34 °C in August 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
4.1 kph.
September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.9 °C, with a minimum of
6.8 °C and a maximum of
19.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.7 °C in September 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
29.2 °C in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
3.8 kph.
October is generally a quite mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
7.2 °C, with a minimum of
0.3 °C and a maximum of
14.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.1 °C in October 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
26.3 °C in October 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is of
3.9 kph.
November is generally a cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
0.9 °C, with a minimum of
-6.9 °C and a maximum of
8.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-18.2 °C in November 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
19.3 °C in November 1993.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.6 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is of
3.5 kph.
December is generally a very cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
-4.9 °C, with a minimum of
-13 °C and a maximum of
3.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-18 °C. However, it dropped to
-23.8 °C in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
10 °C. However, it reached
13.9 °C in December 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.6 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 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 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is of
3.3 kph.