Hangzhou features a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, and high humidity. Summers are hot and wet, winters are cool and drier, and spring and autumn are mild and pleasant. The city’s weather is shaped by the East Asian monsoon, offering lush landscapes and vibrant seasonal changes for visitors year-round.
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.
Hangzhou’s climate is defined by its southeastern China location and monsoon influences, resulting in clear seasonal contrasts. Summers (June–August) are hot, humid, and rainy, with average highs of 32–34°C and lows around 24–26°C. July is typically the hottest month, and the city experiences its wettest period from June to September, with June being the peak of the plum rain (Meiyu) season. Rainfall can exceed 200 mm per month, and thunderstorms are frequent. Typhoons may occur from August to September, bringing heavy rain and strong winds, but direct hits are rare. Sunshine is abundant in summer, with up to 10 hours per day, and the city is lively with festivals and lotus blooms around West Lake.
Winters (December–February) are cool and relatively dry, with average highs of 7–11°C and lows near 1–3°C. January is the coldest month, and while snow is rare, light flurries may occur. Rainfall drops to 40–80 mm per month, and humidity is lower, but dampness can make the air feel colder. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most pleasant seasons, with mild temperatures (10–25°C), moderate rainfall, and blooming or colourful foliage. Spring brings peach blossoms and tea harvests, while autumn is known for clear skies and the fragrance of osmanthus flowers. Annual precipitation averages 1,400–1,500 mm, and Hangzhou enjoys about 1,700–1,900 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are generally light to moderate (6–15 km/h), and daylight ranges from 10 hours in winter to nearly 14 hours in midsummer.
| Average climate data for Hangzhou, China | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 8 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 26 | 29 | 34 | 33 | 28 | 23 | 17 | 11 | 34 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 82 | 89 | 142 | 124 | 127 | 218 | 171 | 164 | 124 | 78 | 71 | 49 | 1,438 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 147 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 75 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 74 | 80 | 75 | 77 | 80 | 76 | 75 | 73 | 75 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 10 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 18 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Average UV index | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 8 |
The best time to visit Hangzhou is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when temperatures are mild (15–25°C), rainfall is moderate, and the city is vibrant with blooming flowers or colourful foliage. These seasons offer the most comfortable weather for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and enjoying West Lake’s scenic beauty.
The least favourable time to visit is in summer (June to August), when Hangzhou is hottest, most humid, and experiences frequent heavy rain, thunderstorms, and occasional typhoons. Outdoor plans can be disrupted by downpours, and heat and humidity may be uncomfortable for some travellers, though the city is lively with festivals.
Hangzhou has a humid subtropical climate with hot, wet summers, cool, damp winters, and mild, pleasant spring and autumn seasons. The city experiences high humidity and abundant rainfall, especially during the monsoon.
Summer temperatures in Hangzhou typically reach 32–34°C, with high humidity making it feel even hotter. July and August are the hottest months, and thunderstorms and heavy rain are frequent.
Hangzhou’s main rainy season is from June to September, with June marking the plum rain (Meiyu) season. Typhoons can bring additional rain and wind in August and September, though direct hits are rare.
Snow is rare in Hangzhou, but light flurries may occur in winter, especially in January or February. When it does snow, it usually melts quickly and rarely disrupts daily life.
Pack layers and a rain jacket for spring and autumn, light, breathable clothes and an umbrella for summer, and warm, windproof layers for winter. Waterproof shoes are useful year-round due to frequent rain.
Hangzhou enjoys about 1,700–1,900 hours of sunshine annually. Summer months are the sunniest, with up to 10 hours per day, while winter is cloudier with fewer sunny days.
Hangzhou is humid year-round, especially in summer when humidity can exceed 80%. Winds are generally light to moderate, but can be stronger during storms or typhoons.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (33.5 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (8.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 21.4 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (25.2 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (1.9 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 13.6 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (27 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (8.7 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 18.2 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (217.8 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is December (48.8 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,437.8 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is March (15.4 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is December (8.5 days). Over the whole year there are 147.3 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is September (80.1 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is December (72.8 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 75.4 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 10 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 6 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 3 h). Over the whole year there are 4.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 11). The months with the lowest average UV index are January and December (UV index: 4). Over the whole year the average UV index is 8.
