Climate Of
China
China's climate varies from
bitter cold in winter to unbearable heat in summer. The Yangtze River
serves as China's official dividing line between north and south. Given
the size and varied landscape of the country, there is no one time in
the year when Chinese weather is ideal. Of course, the warmest areas in
winter are to be found in the South and Southwest, such as Sichuan, Banna
in Yunnan, and Hainan Island. In summer the coolest spots are in the far
northeast.
China has a climate dominated
by dry seasons and wet monsoons, which make for clear temperature differences
in winter and summer. In winter, northern winds coming from high latitude
areas are co ld
and dry; in summer, southern winds from sea areas at lower latitude are
warm and moist. Climates differ from region to region because of the country's
extensive and complex topography. In the south of the Nanling Mountains,
rains are prolific and the temperature is high all year round. In the
Yangtze and Huaihe river valleys in the central part of China, there are
four distinctive seasons. In northeast China, summer is short but there
is much sunshine, while winter is long and cold. Precipitation is limited
in northwest China where it is cold in winter and hot in summer. In southwest
China of low latitudes, the land is elevated high, and has characteristically
vertical seasonal zones.
There's not really an 'ideal'
time to visit the country, so use the following information as a rough
guide to avoid temperature extremes.
North
Northern winters, from December
to March, can be extremely cold. Beijing generally experiences temperature
of -20 C, dry and no
sun. Further north, temperatures reaching -40 C
are not uncommon, and you'll see the curious sight of sand dunes covered
in snow.
During the summer, from May
to August, temperatures in Beijing can hit 38C (100 F),
coinciding with the rainy season for the city. The best time for visiting
the north is spring and autumn. Daytime temperatures range from 20C to
30C (68 F to 86 F)
and drop a lot at night. Precipitation is 6370cm (25-28 inches) per year.
Central
The Yangtze River valley has
long and humid summer with high temperatures from April to October. The
city of Wuhan, Chongqing and Nanjing on the Yangtze are China's three
famous 'furnaces'.
Winters there, with temperatures
dropping well below freezing, can be as cold as in Beijing, particularly
as there is no heating in public buildings south of the Yangtze.
It can also be wet and miserable
at any time apart from summer. Since it is impossible to choose an ideal
time to visit, spring and autumn are probably best. Precipitation averages
around 76 cm (30 inches) per year.
South
Near Guangzhou, the summer
is a season of typhoons between July and September. Temperatures can rise
to around 38 C. Winters
are short, between January and March. It's not as cold as in the north,
but you'd better bring warm clothes with you while visiting.
Autumn and spring can be good
times to visit, with day temperatures in the 20 C
to 25C (68F to 75F) range. Sometimes, it can be miserably wet and cold,
with rain or drizzle. Precipitation averages 76 cm (30 inches) per year.
Northwest
It gets hot in summer, dry
and sunny. The desert regions can be scorching in the daytime. Turpan,
which sits in a depression 150m below sea level, is referred as the 'hottest
place in China' with maximums of around 47 C.
In winter this region is as
severely cold as the rest of northern China. Temperatures in Turpan during
Winter are only slightly more favorable to human existence.
This area of China experiences
little rain, and as a consequence, the air is very dry. Summers, however,
can exceed 40 C, while
winters may drop to -10 C.
Precipitation averages less than 10 cm (4 inches) per year.
Tibet
Undoubtedly, Tibet is one
of the harshest places for human existence. It is cool in summer but freezing
cold in winter. In Lhasa, the mildest city in Tibet, temperature may exceed
29 in summer while plummeting to minus 16 in winter! Sun radiation is
extremely strong in Tibet. The sunlight in Lhasa is so intense that the
city is called Sunlight City. The thin air can neither block off nor retain
heat so that the temperature extremes can be met in daytime and the same
night respectively in Tibet. However it is not impossible to visit the
holy snow land. April to October is the best time to visit Tibet, out
of the coldest months, which are from December to February usually.
The average temperature in
north Tibet is subzero and winter arrives in October until the following
May or June. July and August are the best time to visit the area, enjoying
warm temperature, intense sunshine, beautiful scenery and festive events.
May, June and September is
the tourist season in east Tibet. In winter, roads are all blocked by
heavy snow. Landslides and rock falls frequently occur, which will make
travel difficult.
South Tibet is balmy during
May to October. During the period, there are also great festive events
held. Hence it is the best time to visit Lhasa, Shigatse and Nyingchi.
Most annual rainfall comes
in the rainy season which starts from June to September. Usually it rains
at night in Lhasa, Shigatse and Chamdo area. The rainfall may block roads
and make travel difficult but the scenery at the time will be the best.
From November to the coming May, the wind blows often.
Average
Data in Major Cities
|
Jan
|
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Beijing-----------------------------------------------
----Go top.... |
Average High (  F)
|
33/36
|
38/42
|
50/54
|
67/70
|
78/82
|
86/89
|
87/90
|
84/88
|
77/81
|
66/69
|
49/52
|
36/40
|
Average High (  C)
|
1/3
|
3/5
|
10/12
|
19/21
|
26/28
|
30/32
|
30/32
|
29/31
|
25/27
|
19/21
|
9/11
|
2/4
|
Average Low (  F)
|
13/17
|
18/21
|
29/33
|
43/46
|
54/58
|
63/67
|
69/73
|
67/71
|
56/60
|
43/46
|
29/33
|
18/21
|
Average Low (  C)
|
-10/-8
|
-8/-6
|
-2/0
|
6/8
|
12/14
|
17/19
|
21/23
|
20/22
|
13/15
|
6/8
|
-2/0
|
-8/-6
|
Changsha---------------------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
45/49 |
47/51 |
57/60 |
69/72 |
78/81 |
84/88 |
92/95 |
91/95 |
82/86 |
72/76 |
61/65 |
50/54 |
Average High ( C) |
7/9 |
9/11 |
14/16 |
20/22 |
25/27 |
29/31 |
33/35 |
33/35 |
28/30 |
22/24 |
16/18 |
10/12 |
Average Low ( F) |
33/37 |
36/40 |
44/48 |
55/58 |
64/67 |
71/74 |
76/80 |
76/79 |
68/71 |
57/61 |
47/50 |
37/41 |
Average Low ( C) |
1/3 |
2/4 |
7/9 |
13/15 |
18/20 |
22/24 |
25/27 |
24/26 |
20/22 |
14/16 |
8/10 |
3/5 |
Chengde-
----------- -------------------------- -----------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
26/29 |
33/36 |
46/50 |
63/67 |
76/80 |
82/86 |
84/88 |
82/85 |
74/77 |
61/65 |
43/47 |
29/33 |
Average High ( C) |
-4/-2 |
0/2 |
8/10 |
17/19 |
24/26 |
28/30 |
29/31 |
28/30 |
23/25 |
16/18 |
6/8 |
-2/0 |
Average Low ( F) |
4/7 |
10/13 |
23/27 |
39/42 |
51/54 |
60/63 |
65/69 |
62/66 |
50/54 |
38/41 |
22/26 |
8/12 |
Average Low ( C) |
-16/-14 |
-12/-10 |
-5/-3 |
4/6 |
10/12 |
15/17 |
19/21 |
17/19 |
10/12 |
3/5 |
-6/-4 |
-13/-11 |
Chongqing--------------------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
49/53 |
53/56 |
63/66
| 72/75 |
78/82 |
83/87 |
90/94 |
91/95 |
81/84 |
70/73 |
61/64 |
52/56 |
Average High ( C) |
10/12 |
12/14 |
17/19 |
22/24 |
26/28 |
28/30 |
32/34 |
33/35 |
27/29 |
21/23 |
16/18 |
11/13 |
Average Low ( F) |
40/44 |
43/46 |
50/54 |
58/61 |
64/68 |
69/73 |
74/78 |
74/78 |
68/71 |
59/63 |
52/55 |
44/47 |
Average Low ( C) |
5/7 |
6/8 |
10/12 |
14/16 |
18/20 |
21/23 |
23/25 |
23/25 |
20/22 |
15/17 |
11/13 |
6/8 |
Dali
------------------------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
58/62 |
60/64 |
66/69 |
71/74 |
75/79 |
75/78 |
74/78 |
74/78 |
72/76 |
68/72 |
63/67 |
59/62 |
Average High ( C) |
15/17 |
16/18 |
19/21 |
21/23 |
24/26 |
24/26 |
24/26 |
23/25 |
22/24 |
20/22 |
17/19 |
15/17 |
Average Low ( F) |
35/38 |
38/41 |
42/46 |
47/51 |
54/57 |
59/63 |
60/64 |
59/62 |
56/60 |
51/54 |
42/46 |
36/39 |
Average Low ( C) |
2/4 |
3/5 |
6/8 |
9/11 |
12/14 |
15/17 |
16/18 |
15/17 |
14/16 |
10/12 |
6/8 |
2/4 |
Dalian-------------
---------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
28/32 |
31/35 |
42/45 |
56/59 |
67/70 |
74/77 |
78/82 |
80/83 |
73/77 |
62/66 |
47/51 |
34/38 |
Average High ( C) |
-2/0 |
-1/1 |
5/7 |
13/15 |
19/21 |
23/25 |
26/28 |
26/28 |
23/25 |
17/19 |
8/10 |
1/3 |
Average Low ( F) |
15/19 |
19/22 |
28/32 |
41/44 |
52/55 |
60/64 |
68/71 |
69/72 |
60/64 |
49/52 |
34/38 |
22/25 |
Average Low ( C) |
-9/-7 |
-7/-5 |
-2/0 |
5/7 |
11/13 |
16/18 |
20/22 |
20/22 |
16/18 |
9/11 |
1/3 |
-6/-4 |
Guangzhou--------------------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
63/67 |
63/67 |
69/72 |
76/79 |
83/87 |
86/90 |
89/93 |
89/92 |
87/91 |
82/86 |
75/78 |
67/71 |
Average High ( C) |
17/19 |
17/19 |
20/22 |
24/26 |
28/30 |
30/32 |
32/34 |
32/34 |
31/33 |
28/30 |
24/26 |
20/22 |
Average Low ( F) |
48/52 |
50/54 |
56/60 |
64/68 |
71/75 |
74/78 |
76/79 |
75/79 |
73/77 |
66/70 |
58/62 |
50/54 |
Average Low ( C) |
9/11 |
10/12 |
14/16 |
18/20 |
22/24 |
23/25 |
24/26 |
24/26 |
23/25 |
19/21 |
14/16 |
10/12 |
Guilin-----------------------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
52/55 |
53/56 |
60/64 |
71/74 |
79/83 |
85/89 |
89/93 |
90/93 |
85/89 |
76/80 |
66/70 |
57/60 |
Average High ( C) |
11/13 |
12/14 |
16/18 |
21/23 |
26/28 |
30/32 |
32/34 |
32/34 |
30/32 |
25/27 |
19/21 |
14/16 |
Average Low ( F) |
39/43 |
42/46 |
49/53 |
58/62 |
66/70 |
72/76 |
75/79 |
74/78 |
70/73 |
61/65 |
52/55 |
43/46 |
Average Low ( C) |
4/6 |
6/8 |
10/12 |
15/17 |
19/21 |
22/24 |
24/26 |
23/25 |
21/23 |
16/18 |
11/13 |
6/8 |
Haikou-----------------------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
68/71 |
70/74 |
77/80 |
84/87 |
88/92 |
90/93 |
90/94 |
88/92 |
86/89 |
81/85 |
76/80 |
70/74 |
Average High ( C) |
20/22 |
21/23 |
25/27 |
29/31 |
31/33 |
32/34 |
32/34 |
31/33 |
30/32 |
27/29 |
24/26 |
21/23 |
Average Low ( F) |
57/61 |
59/62 |
64/67 |
70/73 |
74/78 |
76/79 |
76/79 |
75/79 |
74/78 |
71/74 |
66/69 |
60/63 |
Average Low ( C) |
14/16 |
15/17 |
18/20 |
21/23 |
23/25 |
24/26 |
24/26 |
24/26 |
23/25 |
21/23 |
19/21 |
15/17 |
HongKong---------------------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
65/68 |
65/68 |
69/72 |
75/79 |
81/84 |
85/88 |
87/90 |
87/90 |
85/89 |
81/85 |
74/78 |
68/72 |
Average High ( C) |
18/20 |
18/20 |
20/22 |
24/26 |
27/29 |
29/31 |
30/32 |
30/32 |
30/32 |
27/29 |
23/25 |
20/22 |
Average Low ( F) |
56/59 |
57/60 |
61/64 |
67/71 |
74/77 |
78/81 |
79/82 |
79/82 |
77/81 |
73/76 |
65/69 |
58/61 |
Average Low ( C) |
13/15 |
14/16 |
16/18 |
20/22 |
23/25 |
25/27 |
26/28 |
26/28 |
25/27 |
23/25 |
18/20 |
14/16 |
Kunming---------------
------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
58/61 |
61/65 |
67/71 |
73/77 |
75/78 |
73/77 |
73/77 |
73/77 |
71/74 |
66/70 |
62/65 |
58/61 |
Average High ( C) |
14/16 |
16/18 |
20/22 |
23/25 |
24/26 |
23/25 |
23/25 |
23/25 |
22/24 |
19/21 |
16/18 |
14/16 |
Average Low ( F) |
34/38 |
37/40 |
42/46 |
49/52 |
56/59 |
60/64 |
61/64 |
60/63 |
56/60 |
51/55 |
43/47 |
36/40 |
Average Low ( C) |
1/3 |
3/5 |
6/8 |
9/11 |
13/15 |
16/18 |
16/18 |
15/17 |
13/15 |
11/13 |
6/8 |
2/4 |
Shanghai---------------------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
45/48 |
46/50 |
54/58 |
65/68 |
74/78 |
80/84 |
88/92 |
88/92 |
81/84 |
72/76 |
61/65 |
50/54 |
Average High ( C) |
7/9 |
8/10 |
12/14 |
18/20 |
23/25 |
27/29 |
31/33 |
31/33 |
27/29 |
22/24 |
16/18 |
10/12 |
Average Low ( F) |
31/34 |
33/36 |
39/43 |
49/52 |
58/62 |
66/70 |
74/78 |
74/78 |
67/70 |
56/60 |
46/49 |
35/39 |
Average Low ( C) |
-1/1 |
0/2 |
4/6 |
9/11 |
14/16 |
19/21 |
23/25 |
23/25 |
19/21 |
13/15 |
8/10 |
2/4 |
Shenzhen--
------------------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
65/69 |
65/69 |
71/74 |
77/81 |
83/87 |
86/89 |
88/92 |
88/91 |
86/89 |
82/85 |
75/79 |
68/72 |
Average High ( C) |
18/20 |
18/20 |
21/23 |
25/27 |
28/30 |
30/32 |
31/33 |
31/33 |
30/32 |
28/30 |
24/26 |
20/22 |
Average Low ( F) |
50/53 |
52/56 |
58/62 |
65/69 |
71/75 |
75/78 |
76/79 |
75/79 |
73/77 |
67/71 |
60/63 |
52/56 |
Average Low ( C) |
10/12 |
11/13 |
14/16 |
18/20 |
22/24 |
24/26 |
24/26 |
24/26 |
23/25 |
20/22 |
15/17 |
11/13 |
Xiamen-----------------------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
61/64 |
60/63 |
64/67 |
71/74 |
78/82 |
83/87 |
88/92 |
88/92 |
86/89 |
80/84 |
73/76 |
65/69 |
Average High ( C) |
16/18 |
15/17 |
18/20 |
22/24 |
26/28 |
28/30 |
31/33 |
31/33 |
30/32 |
27/29 |
23/25 |
19/21 |
Average Low ( F) |
49/52 |
49/52 |
52/56 |
60/63 |
68/71 |
73/77 |
77/80 |
76/80 |
74/78 |
68/71 |
60/64 |
53/56 |
Average Low ( C) |
9.0/11 |
9.0/11 |
11/13 |
15/17 |
20/22 |
23/25 |
25/27 |
25/27 |
23/25 |
20/22 |
16/18 |
12/14 |
Zhenjiang--------------------------------------------------Go
top.... |
Average High ( F) |
42/46 |
45/49 |
55/58 |
66/70 |
76/80 |
83/86 |
88/92 |
88/92 |
80/84 |
70/74 |
59/63 |
47/51 |
Average High ( C) |
6/8 |
7/9 |
13/15 |
19/21 |
24/26 |
28/30 |
31/33 |
31/33 |
27/29 |
21/23 |
15/17 |
8/10 |
Average Low ( F) |
28/31 |
30/34 |
38/42 |
49/52 |
59/62 |
67/71 |
74/78 |
74/77 |
65/68 |
53/57 |
42/45 |
31/34 |
Average Low ( C) |
-2/-0 |
-1/1 |
3/5 |
9/11 |
15/17 |
19/21 |
23/25 |
23/25 |
18/20 |
12/14 |
5/7 |
-1/1 |
Zhuhai-------------
----- ---- ----------------------------Go
top.... |
Rain (in) |
0.8/0.9 |
1.5/1.6 |
2.3/2.4 |
5.6/5.7 |
8.4/8.5 |
9.3/9.4 |
8.5/8.6 |
10.0/10.1 |
7.1/7.2 |
2.9/3.0 |
1.0/1.1 |
0.8/0.9 |
Rain (mm) |
20/25 |
40/45 |
60/65 |
140/145 |
210/215 |
235/240 |
215/220 |
250/255 |
180/185 |
70/75 |
25/30 |
20/25 |
|