Winter
Dec → Feb2 to 6°
nights -7 to -5°
- 1 rainy days · 4 mm
When is the best time to visit Beijing?
- Jan2°not recommended
- Feb6°not recommended
- Mar15°fair
- Apr22°recommended
- May28°recommended
- Jun33°fair
- Jul32°not recommended
- Aug30°fair
- Sep27°recommended
- Oct19°recommended
- Nov10°fair
- Dec3°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Beijing, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2° | -7° | 2 mm | 1 d | |
| February | 6° | -5° | 7 mm | 2 d | |
| March | 15° | 1° | 9 mm | 3 d | |
| April | 22° | 8° | 20 mm | 3 d | ✓ |
| May | 28° | 14° | 29 mm | 5 d | ✓ |
| June | 33° | 20° | 57 mm | 6 d | |
| July | 32° | 23° | 233 mm | 14 d | |
| August | 30° | 21° | 160 mm | 12 d | |
| September | 27° | 16° | 58 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| October | 19° | 8° | 31 mm | 4 d | ✓ |
| November | 10° | 0° | 20 mm | 3 d | |
| December | 3° | -6° | 3 mm | 1 d |
The four seasons in Beijing, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Forbidden City) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May15 to 28°
nights 1 to 14°
- 4 rainy days · 19 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug30 to 33°
nights 20 to 23°
- 11 rainy days · 150 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov10 to 27°
nights 0 to 16°
- 4 rainy days · 36 mm
Book early for April to May and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Beijing, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h59 of daylight, in December 9h21, a difference of 5h38.
9h38Jan
10h38Feb
11h50Mar
13h13Apr
14h22May
14h59Jun
14h44Jul
13h44Aug
12h24Sep
11h04Oct
9h55Nov
9h21Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Forbidden City" (39.92°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Beijing, month by month
EventsChinese New YearJanuary to FebruaryOctober Golden WeekOctoberCherry blossom in Yuyuantan ParkMarch to AprilRed leaves of the Fragrant HillsOctober to NovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: March, April, May, August, September, October, November
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Beijing, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- January to FebruaryChinese New Year
The Ditan and Longtan temples hold their fairs, but the city empties of its workers and many shops close.
- OctoberOctober Golden Week big crowds
National Day opens a week of holidays, and both the Forbidden City and the Great Wall reach their peak visitor numbers.
- March to AprilCherry blossom in Yuyuantan Park
Thousands of cherry trees bloom around the lake, in the west of the city, and queues grow at the entrances at weekends.
- October to NovemberRed leaves of the Fragrant Hills
The maples of Xiangshan turn red in mid-autumn, and the park limits entry on the busiest days.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended2°-7° at night
- 2 mm · 1 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended6°-5° at night
- 7 mm · 2 d
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair15°1° at night
- 9 mm · 3 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended22°8° at night
- 20 mm · 3 d
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended28°14° at night
- 29 mm · 5 d
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair33°20° at night
- 57 mm · 6 d
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended32°23° at night
- 233 mm · 14 d
Low season, lower prices
August
Fair30°21° at night
- 160 mm · 12 d
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended27°16° at night
- 58 mm · 6 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended19°8° at night
- 31 mm · 4 d
High season, book early
November
Fair10°0° at night
- 20 mm · 3 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended3°-6° at night
- 3 mm · 1 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 2 °C at the warmest of the day, -7 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 1 day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: 6 °C at the warmest of the day, -5 °C at night. Hardly any rain (7 mm over 2 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 15 °C at best, 1 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 3 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 8 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (20 mm over 3 days). Busy season, without the crush.
May. 28 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C at night. Rain stays light: 29 mm over 5 days. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Real heat: 33 °C at the warmest of the day, 20 °C at night. Rain stays light: 57 mm over 6 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 23 °C at night. A very wet month, 233 mm of rain over 14 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 30 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (160 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
September. 27 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Rain stays light: 58 mm over 6 days. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 8 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 31 mm over 4 days. High season: book early.
November. Cool: 10 °C at best, 0 °C at night. Hardly any rain (20 mm over 3 days). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 3 °C at the warmest of the day, -6 °C at night. Hardly any rain (3 mm over 1 day). Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Beijing?
April to May and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 19 to 28 °C, with 5 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Forbidden City).
Which month should you avoid in Beijing?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 233 mm over 14 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Forbidden City).
What is the hottest month in Beijing?
June, with 33 °C on average in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Forbidden City).
What is the coldest month in Beijing?
January, with 2 °C at best during the day and -7 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Forbidden City).
What is the driest month in Beijing?
January: 2 mm over 1 day of rain, against 233 mm in July, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in Beijing?
The gap between day and night reaches 14 °C in March: 15 °C in the afternoon, 1 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Beijing guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit China: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Robert Stokoe / Pexels · Jakob Jin / Pexels · AXP Photography / Pexels · Yan Zhang / Pexels · 差距 钦 / Pexels · Mehmet Yasin Kabaklı / Pexels