Kashgar, located in Xinjiang’s far west, features a mid-latitude desert climate with dramatic seasonal contrasts. Summers are long, hot, and dry, while winters are short, cold, and mostly dry with occasional snow. The city enjoys abundant sunshine, low annual rainfall, and significant day-night temperature swings, making it a unique destination for cultural and natural exploration.
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.
Kashgar’s climate is defined by its arid location and elevation of nearly 1,300 metres. Summers (June–August) are hot and dry, with average highs of 30–33°C and occasional peaks above 35°C. Nights are much cooler, often dropping to 17–22°C, providing relief from daytime heat. Sunshine is abundant, with up to 14 hours per day in June and July. Rainfall is minimal, with summer months averaging 9–18 mm and only a handful of rainy days. Humidity remains low, around 22–26%, and the air is typically clear, though brief thunderstorms may occur.
Winters (December–February) are short, cold, and mostly dry. Average highs range from –1°C to 2°C, while lows often fall to –7°C or below. Snow is possible but rare, and the winter sun is bright, though days are shorter. Cold snaps can bring temperatures below –10°C, and the city’s dryness means even cold days feel crisp rather than damp. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with mild to warm days (15–26°C in spring, 14–25°C in autumn), cool nights, and moderate rainfall. Spring can bring strong winds and dust storms, while autumn is known for clear skies and golden landscapes. Annual precipitation is very low, averaging just 22–44 mm, and Kashgar enjoys over 3,800 hours of sunshine per year. Daylight varies from about 8 hours in winter to over 15 hours in midsummer.
| Average climate data for Kashgar, China | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 0 | 5 | 13 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 20 | 11 | 2 | 32 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -10 | -6 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 5 | -2 | -8 | -10 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 2 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 64 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 28 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 67 | 57 | 48 | 40 | 42 | 41 | 43 | 49 | 52 | 55 | 61 | 71 | 52 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
The best time to visit Kashgar is in spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October), when temperatures are mild, skies are clear, and rainfall is minimal. These months offer ideal conditions for exploring the city’s historic sites, bazaars, and the stunning landscapes of the surrounding region.
The least favourable time to visit is in winter (December–February), when cold temperatures and occasional snow can make outdoor activities less comfortable. Late spring may bring strong winds and dust storms, while peak summer can be very hot, especially for those sensitive to dry heat.
Kashgar has a mid-latitude desert climate with hot, dry summers (30–33°C), short, cold winters (–1 to 2°C), and low annual rainfall. The city enjoys abundant sunshine and large day-night temperature swings.
April–May and September–October are the best months to visit Kashgar, offering mild temperatures, clear skies, and minimal rain—perfect for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Snow is possible in winter but is generally rare and light. Most winter days are dry and sunny, though cold snaps can bring temperatures below –10°C.
Summer highs average 30–33°C, with occasional peaks above 35°C. Nights are much cooler, often dropping to 17–22°C, and humidity remains low, making the heat more comfortable.
Kashgar receives very little rain, averaging just 22–44 mm annually. Most months see only a few millimetres of precipitation, with May being the wettest month.
Pack layers for large day-night temperature swings, sun protection for summer, and warm clothing for winter. In spring, bring a scarf or mask for dust storms. Moisturiser is useful year-round due to the dry air.
Winter is quiet and sunny but cold, with occasional snow and temperatures often below freezing. It’s suitable for those who enjoy crisp, dry air and fewer tourists, but warm clothing is essential.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (32 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (0.4 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 18.3 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (18.5 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-10.1 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 5.5 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (9.1 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is November (1.6 mm). Over the whole year there are 64.1 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is August (3.7 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is November (0.7 days). Over the whole year there are 27.9 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (70.8 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is April (39.7 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 52.1 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9 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: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 4.9 h). Over the whole year there are 7.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 11). The months with the lowest average UV index are January and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 6.4.
