Winter
Dec → Feb6 to 10°
nights -3 to 0°
- 3 rainy days · 10 mm
When is the best time to visit Xi'an?
- Jan6°not recommended
- Feb10°not recommended
- Mar17°fair
- Apr22°recommended
- May27°recommended
- Jun31°fair
- Jul32°not recommended
- Aug31°fair
- Sep26°recommended
- Oct19°recommended
- Nov13°fair
- Dec7°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Xi'an, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6° | -3° | 9 mm | 3 d | |
| February | 10° | 0° | 15 mm | 4 d | |
| March | 17° | 6° | 25 mm | 4 d | |
| April | 22° | 11° | 52 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| May | 27° | 15° | 56 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| June | 31° | 20° | 85 mm | 8 d | |
| July | 32° | 23° | 106 mm | 11 d | |
| August | 31° | 22° | 96 mm | 10 d | |
| September | 26° | 18° | 94 mm | 9 d | ✓ |
| October | 19° | 11° | 64 mm | 9 d | ✓ |
| November | 13° | 5° | 25 mm | 5 d | |
| December | 7° | -2° | 6 mm | 2 d |
The four seasons in Xi'an, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Terracotta Army) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May17 to 27°
nights 6 to 15°
- 6 rainy days · 44 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug31 to 32°
nights 20 to 23°
- 10 rainy days · 96 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov13 to 26°
nights 5 to 18°
- 8 rainy days · 61 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 Xi'an, 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 14h26 of daylight, in December 9h52, a difference of 4h35.
10h05Jan
10h54Feb
11h53Mar
13hApr
13h56May
14h26Jun
14h14Jul
13h26Aug
12h20Sep
11h15Oct
10h19Nov
9h52Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Terracotta Army" (34.39°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Xi'an, month by month
EventsChinese New YearJanuary to FebruaryLantern FestivalFebruary to MarchGolden WeekOctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: February, March, April, May, June, August, September, October, November
- Long days: June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Xi'an, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- January to FebruaryChinese New Year big crowds
Between late January and February, the city walls and the Bell Tower light up and temple fairs set up around the city.
- February to MarchLantern Festival
Fifteen days after the Lunar New Year, the city walls are covered in lanterns for several evenings in a row.
- OctoberGolden Week big crowds
The first week of October packs out the Terracotta Army: long queues at the pits and pricier hotels in the city.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended6°-3° at night
- 9 mm · 3 d
Busy, without the crush
February
Not recommended10°0° at night
- 15 mm · 4 d
Busy, without the crush
March
Fair17°6° at night
- 25 mm · 4 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended22°11° at night
- 52 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended27°15° at night
- 56 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair31°20° at night
- 85 mm · 8 d
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended32°23° at night
- 106 mm · 11 d
Low season, lower prices
August
Fair31°22° at night
- 96 mm · 10 d
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended26°18° at night
- 94 mm · 9 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended19°11° at night
- 64 mm · 9 d
High season, book early
November
Fair13°5° at night
- 25 mm · 5 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended7°-2° at night
- 6 mm · 2 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 6 °C at the warmest of the day, -3 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 3 days). Busy season, without the crush.
February. Cool: 10 °C at best, 0 °C at night. Rain stays light: 15 mm over 4 days. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 17 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Rain stays light: 25 mm over 4 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 52 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 27 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Rain stays light: 56 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 31 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (85 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 23 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (106 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 31 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (96 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
September. 26 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (94 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (64 mm). High season: book early.
November. Cool: 13 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Rain stays light: 25 mm over 5 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, -2 °C at night. Hardly any rain (6 mm over 2 days). 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 Xi'an?
April to May and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 19 to 27 °C, with 8 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Terracotta Army).
Which month should you avoid in Xi'an?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 106 mm over 11 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Terracotta Army).
What is the hottest month in Xi'an?
July, with 32 °C on average in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Terracotta Army).
What is the coldest month in Xi'an?
January, with 6 °C at best during the day and -3 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Terracotta Army).
What is the driest month in Xi'an?
December: 6 mm over 2 days of rain, against 106 mm in July, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in Xi'an?
The gap between day and night reaches 12 °C in May: 27 °C in the afternoon, 15 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Xi'an 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: Yan Zhang / Pexels · Jakob Jin / Pexels · AXP Photography / Pexels · Robert Stokoe / Pexels · Fabrizio Soldano / Pexels · YikyuenG / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)