Beijing Weather, When to Go and Climate Information

(Beijing, China)

Beijing is a great city to visit at any time, although if you are planning a holiday here, it is always a good idea to be aware of the weather that you can expect. The climate in Beijing is always chilly during the winter, with January and February being the coldest and driest months, when sharp night-time frosts are predictable.

Quite the opposite are the summers in Beijing, which are hot, humid and experience periods of extreme sunshine and temperatures higher than 30°C / 86°F, topping 32°C / 90°F at times. These high temperatures can make the atmosphere feel a little muggy and do contribute to the overall pollution levels.

Seasonal Climate Variations / When to Go

July and August are the hottest months in Beijing, experiencing the most sunny weather and longest daylight hours. However, rather surprisingly both July and August also suffer from heavy rainfalls due to the influences of the East Asian monsoon. The average precipitation levels in July are just about 200 mm / 8 inches, falling to around 180 mm / 7 inches in August and then being virtually nonexistent in September - a good time to visit.

The winter climate in Beijing may be cold, but this period is usually extremely dry, being influenced in no small part by the Siberian anticyclone. January temperatures in Beijing stay around freezing by day and drop sharply at night, often falling to below -10°C / 14°F, or thereabouts. Whilst these temperatures might not be for everyone, this is a particularly inexpensive time to visit the city, with hotels slashing their prices to raise occupancy levels.

Autumn is a particularly popular time to visit Beijing, when the climate is at its best. Spring too is a good time to plan your holiday in the city, with temperatures during April and May staying close to 20°C / 68°F. In general, the seasons can be summarised as follows:

• Spring: temperate, mild, warm at times
• Summer: hot with heavy spells of rain
• Autumn: clear, sunny and warm
• Winter: cold, with sharp frosts, some wind, seasonal dust storms and snowy weather

Beijing Weather and Climate Chart (Averages)

	Maximum	Minimum
January	1°C / 34°F	-9°C / 16°F
February	6°C / 43°F	-6°C / 21°F
March	12°C / 54°F	0°C / 32°F
April	20°C / 68°F	7°C / 45°F
May	26°C / 79°F	12°C / 54°F
June	30°C / 86°F	18°C / 64°F
July	31°C / 88°F	22°C / 72°F
August	30°C / 86°F	20°C / 68°F
September	26°C / 79°F	14°C / 57°F
October	18°C / 64°F	7°C / 45°F
November	10°C / 50°F	-1°C / 30°F
December	3°C / 37°F	-6°C / 21°F