Beijing features a humid continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons: hot, humid, and rainy summers; cold, dry winters; and short, pleasant spring and autumn periods. The city experiences dramatic swings in temperature and rainfall, with abundant sunshine year-round and pronounced seasonal contrasts that shape the rhythms of daily life and travel.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Beijing’s climate is marked by strong seasonal variation and the influence of the East Asian monsoon. Winters (December–February) are cold and dry, with average highs of 2–4°C and lows often dipping below –7°C, and occasional cold snaps reaching –15°C or lower. Snow is rare but possible, and the air is crisp with low humidity. Sunshine is frequent, averaging 6–7 hours per day, but daylight is shortest in December and January. Winds can be brisk, and sandstorms sometimes occur in spring.
Spring (March–May) arrives quickly, bringing rapidly rising temperatures from 10°C in March to 20–26°C by May. The season is generally dry, but windy, with occasional dust storms from the Gobi Desert. Summers (June–August) are hot, humid, and rainy, with average highs of 30–31°C and frequent peaks above 35°C. July and August are the rainiest months, accounting for over half of the annual precipitation (170–240 mm per month), often as heavy downpours or thunderstorms. Humidity can make the heat feel more intense, and typhoons may bring additional rain, though direct hits are rare. Autumn (September–November) is short, clear, and comfortable, with highs dropping from 26°C in September to 10°C in November. Rainfall decreases sharply, and skies are often blue and sunny. Annual precipitation averages 480–650 mm, with 75–80% falling in summer. Beijing enjoys 2,500–2,800 hours of sunshine annually, with the sunniest months in spring and autumn.
| Average climate data for Beijing, China | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 2 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 26 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 26 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 31 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -8 | -6 | 0 | 8 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 15 | 8 | 0 | -6 | -8 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 3 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 34 | 78 | 186 | 159 | 45 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 571 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 71 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 45 | 44 | 46 | 46 | 54 | 61 | 74 | 78 | 68 | 61 | 58 | 49 | 57 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
The best time to visit Beijing is in spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October), when temperatures are mild (15–26°C), rainfall is low, and skies are clear. These seasons offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, hiking, and enjoying Beijing’s parks and historic sites, with blooming flowers or vibrant autumn foliage and comfortable weather.
The least favourable times to visit are the peak of summer (July–August), when heat, humidity, and heavy rain can make outdoor activities uncomfortable, and winter (December–February), when cold, dry air and occasional strong winds can be challenging for some travellers. Both periods also see more extreme temperature swings and potential travel disruptions.
Beijing has a humid continental monsoon climate with hot, humid, rainy summers and cold, dry winters. Spring and autumn are short and pleasant, with mild temperatures and abundant sunshine.
Summer temperatures in Beijing often reach 30–35°C, with humidity making it feel even hotter. July and August are the hottest and wettest months, with frequent thunderstorms and occasional heatwaves.
Snow is rare but possible in Beijing, mainly from December to February. Most winter days are dry and sunny, but occasional cold snaps can bring light snowfall and freezing temperatures.
The rainiest season is summer, especially July and August, when over half of the annual rainfall occurs. Heavy downpours and thunderstorms are common, and humidity is at its highest.
Beijing enjoys 2,500–2,800 hours of sunshine annually. Spring and autumn are the sunniest seasons, while summer is less sunny due to frequent rain and cloud cover.
Pack warm, windproof layers for winter, and light, breathable clothes for summer. In spring and autumn, bring layers and sun protection. An umbrella is useful in summer, and a mask may help during spring dust storms.
Beijing is dry and windy in winter and spring, with occasional dust storms. Summer is hot and humid, while autumn is clear and comfortable with low humidity and little wind.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (30.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (1.7 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 17.9 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (21.9 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-8.5 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 7.2 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (186.1 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is January (2.7 mm). Over the whole year there are 570.6 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (13.6 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is December (1.8 days). Over the whole year there are 70.9 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is August (78.1 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is February (43.6 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 57 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is May (Average sunshine: 9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 5 h). Over the whole year there are 7 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 9). The month with the lowest average UV index is December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 5.2.
