Best time to visit Beijing

Beijing weather in January is harsh. The Siberian anticyclone brings dry and freezing days. The cold air masses come from the Mongolian deserts and ensure low temperatures. Usually, the day temperature is slightly below 0°C (32°F), but at night, it may fall to -10°C (14°F) or even lower. Stopping by Beijing in January is a good idea only in case you can handle low temperatures and biting winds. Otherwise, sightseeing would be too challenging, even in your warmest apparel. The sun is the only thing that moderates the unfavorable conditions. The sky is bright almost all day long, and the sun creates a welcoming ambiance. Besides, snowfalls are unlikely, so you may expect to see snow once or twice.

The first half of February is similar to January. The nights and early mornings are freezing, but by midday, the temperature rises a bit. The sun shining in the cloudless sky barely warms up the air. However, when the days are bright, the subfreezing temperatures and biting winds are not that bothersome. Besides, the low humidity makes the cold less perceptible. But don’t be misled by the sun—it’s still way too chilly to neglect your warmest clothes. By late February, the temperature starts rising, and even the nights become milder. It might snow several times; snowdrifts are a rare occasion as the strong wind blows them away.

A transition month between freezing winter and mild spring, March shows unstable weather. The first half of the month is cold and windy, with the temperature falling below freezing at night. During the day, the air warms up, and the conditions become more suitable for sightseeing. However, you should still get dressed warmly and keep in mind that light snowfalls are not rare in Beijing in early spring. Starting from mid-March, the weather improves rapidly. It gets sunnier and milder outside, the night temperatures don’t drop below 5°C (41°F), while at noon the thermometer may show over 17°C (63°F). The quick rise in the temperature and a noticeable difference between day and night makes it a bit challenging to pack a suitcase for the entire month.

The weather keeps on getting better. The mornings are rather fresh, but the gentle sun warms up the air and makes the days pleasant for any kind of outdoor activity. You’ll notice a constant increase in the temperature as it crawls up slightly every day. In April, 20°C (68°F) is usual for the thermometer to show, and occasionally it reaches the mark of 23°C (73°F). Besides, the weather is sunny and dry. The number of precipitation days increases compared to March, but it rains only about five days in a month. The combination of such favorable conditions makes April a great time to visit Beijing. A sandstorm could be the only issue. In April, as in the rest of the spring season, the wind may bring dust masses from the Gobi desert—thousands of tonnes of sand might cover the city.

In May, the weather in Beijing is splendid. The sky is cloudless for about three weeks, promising no rains and an entire day of sunshine. About five-six days may be rainy. The temperature is moderate, ensuring comfortably mild mornings and evenings and warm days. Even at night, the temperature doesn’t fall below 20°C (68°F). The only thing you need to carry just in case is a light jacket. Though there is a risk that this magnificent period would be interrupted by a sandstorm, and the yellow dust would cover Beijing. Combined with the pollution and humidity, the storms could be a real disaster, affecting lungs and irritating eyes. Besides, by the end of the month, the temperature starts rising and might exceed the mark of 30°C (86°F), which is a first sign of the future deterioration of the weather.

In June, the wet season begins in Beijing. The East Asian monsoons bring hot and rainy weather. Compared to late May, a rise in the temperature is not that significant, only a few degrees. However, the humidity increases to over 60%, and the heat becomes hard to bear. The precipitation doubles the spring amount, but rains are not torrential yet. Although June is wet and muggy, the rain has one positive effect as it decreases the industrial smog covering the city. In the last days of June, the temperature may reach 34°C (93°F). As the weather hardly varies throughout the summer, starting from June, the clothes should be light, and sunscreen is a must.

In July, the weather deteriorates even more. The heat grows, and even the morning freshness is gone. The temperature doesn’t decrease during the night, and by noon, it peaks to 35°C (95°F). In the worst-case scenario, it may hit the mark of 40°C (104°F). The days are sweltering, and it’s better to stay inside. For outdoors you better carry an umbrella: it will hide you from both the scorching sun and the rain. The amount of precipitation is twice as much as in June, and it makes July one of the rainiest months. It’s likely to rain every second day. Meanwhile, humidity reaches 70%. The combination of the warm, polluted air and tiring temperature extremes is not the best set for a comfy vacation in Beijing. To run away from the heat, you may consider a day trip to the Bohai Sea, which is relatively close to Beijing. In July, the seawater warms up to 23°C (73°F).

The first half of the month is as painfully hot as July. The heat is slightly lower early in the morning and closer to the evening. Hence, it’s better to plan any outdoor activities for these periods. In the middle of the day, well-conditioned indoor areas might be your shelter. Besides, the wet season persists, and the high humidity keeps on making the heat difficult to bear. Along with July, August is one of the wettest months. The rains are frequent and do not follow a fixed pattern. For your comfort, you might want to carry an umbrella or a raincoat. Starting from mid-August, the weather improves gradually. The monsoons leave Beijing, the heat decreases, and the rains calm down. This time of the transition from the wet season to dry is excellent for a visit.

In September, the monsoons responsible for the humid, sultry summer are gone, and the weather improves rapidly. The heat drops to an acceptable level and doesn’t exceed 28°C (82°F). The days are pleasantly warm, while at night, the temperature keeps on decreasing. The gap between the day and night temperature brings back the periods of morning and evening freshness. For these hours, you’d find a light jacket to come in handy. As the wet season is over, the days are sunny, with almost no rain. A brief shower may catch you in the first weeks of the month, but from mid-September, the chances for rain decrease. Generally, the weather in September is magnificent and ideal for exploring Beijing.

The beginning of the month resembles the conditions of September and is favorable for a visit. You’ll notice how the temperature starts to drop gradually. The days are still comfortable for walks and sightseeing, but nights are rather cold. Until mid-October, during the day, the thermometer rarely hits the marks lower than 20°C (68°F). However, the nights can be as cold as 10°C (50°F), and the chilly mornings foresee the upcoming winter. If the decrease in the temperature doesn’t bother you, the first half of October is a good time for visiting Beijing. During the day, the air warms up sufficiently, and the rains won’t interrupt your walk. But by the end of the month, it gets cold and windy.

In November, the dropdown in the temperature is abrupt. The first week is somewhat bearable, but later on, the thermometer points only to the figures below 10°C (50°F). Even during the day, the temperature doesn’t rise, and to spend time outdoors, you should get appropriately dressed. At night, the temperature falls below freezing, and the chilly mornings are inevitable in November. Regardless of the rapid decline in the temperature, the dry air combined with the cloudless sky leaves some room for a visit to Beijing. A short, light rain might occur once-twice during the month, but the rest of the time, bright sunshine is likely to accompany your city walks.

The weather conditions keep on deteriorating quickly. Once the Siberian anticyclone hits Beijing, the temperature drops below freezing. The brisk wind, as cold as -8°C (18°F), makes the cold even more perceptible. Meanwhile, the days are dry and sunny. The cloudless sky may deceive you and make you think that the air warms up under the day-long sunshine. But it doesn’t, and to go outside, you have to put on warm clothes, including a hat and gloves. If you are appropriately dressed, you can walk around and explore the city as aside from the low temperature, the weather is generally nice. Being the driest month of the year, December won’t spoil your walk with a snowstorm. The snowfall is a rare phenomenon, usually occurring early in the mornings or in late evenings.