Climate
China Climate
Major China cities alphabetically listed below help you to know the climatic features and weather conditions of these palces including their annual temperatures, monsoon and rainfall. The best time for travel to different cities is also intoduced to easy your trip.
China Climate in General
In China, a vast land spanning many degrees of latitude with complicated terrain, climate varies radically. China has a variety of temperature and rainfall zones, including continental monsoon areas. In winter most areas become cold and dry, in summer hot and rainy.
Five Temperature Zones
Temperatures vary a great deal. Influenced by latitude and monsoon activities, in winter, an isotherm of zero degrees traverses the Huaihe River-Qinling Mountain-southeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Areas north of the isotherm have temperatures below zero degrees and south of it, above zero. Mohe in Heilongjiang can hit an average of 30 degrees centigrade below zero, while the temperature of Sanya in Hainan Province is above 20 degrees. In summer, most of areas are above 20 degrees centigrade despite the high Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and other mountains such as Tianshan. Among these hot places, Turpan Basin in Xinjiang is the center for intense heat at 32 centigrade on average.
Cold-Temperate Zone: north part of Heilongjiang Province and Inner Mongolia (Representative city: Harbin) Mid-Temperate Zone: Jilin, northern Xinjiang, and most of Heilongjiang, Liaoning, and Inner Mongolia (Representative cities: Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian, Urumqi, Hohhot, Dunhuang, Lanzhou) Warm-Temperate Zone: area of the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Hebei Province (Representative cities: Xian, Taiyuan, Luoyang, Jinan, Qingdao, Zhengzhou) Subtropical Zone: South of isotherm of Qinling Mountain-Huaihe River, east of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Representative cities: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Guilin, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Chengdu) Tropical Zone: Hainan province, southern Taiwan, Guangdong, and Yunnan Province (Representative cities: Haikou, Sanya) Plateau Climate Zone: Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Representative city: Lhasa)Precipitation
Precipitation in China is basically regular each year. From the spatial angle, the distribution shows that the rainfall is increasing from southeast to northwest, because the eastern seashores are influenced more than inland areas by the summer monsoon. In the place with the most rainfall, Huoshaoliao in Taipei, the average annual precipitation can reach over 6,000mm. The rainy seasons are mainly May to September. In some areas, especially in the dry northwest, changes in precipitation every year are greater than in the coastal area. Based on precipitation, the area divides into four parts: wet area, semi-wet area, semi-dry area and dry area.
Monsoon
In summer, a southeast monsoon from the western Pacific Ocean and a southwest monsoon from the equatorial Indian Ocean blow onto the Chinese mainland. These monsoons are the main cause of rainfall. Starting in April and May, the summer rainy season monsoons hit the southern provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan. In June, the rains blow northward, and South China gets more rainfall with the poetic name, plum-rain weather, since this is the moment when plums mellow. North China greets its rainy season in July and August, says farewell in September; gradually in October the summer monsoons retreat from Chinese land. Eastern China experiences many climate changes, while the northwest area is a non-monsoon region.
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Travelers' Voices on China Climate
1.
Jun. 21,2009 08:28 Reply
Ms.Whitton(United Kingdom) said:
Hi
We are planning on getting the Trans Sib to arrive Beijing around the start of February. I thought it would be good to spend chinese new year in china, but i have heard that it is really expensive and hard to find somwehere to stay etc...? Is this true? Also, where do you think the best place to be over the CNY?? We want to travel about abit...
Jun. 22,2009 19:57
Mr.Frankie replied:
If you stay in Beijing, it is easy to book a hotel during Chinese new year. And, not so expensive than other time~ Maybe you go to Harbin, not fare from Beijing, where you could participate in the Ice & Snow Festival. Very gorgeous!
2.
Jun. 18,2009 10:21 Reply
Mr.toufic akko(lebanon) said:
hi ,
i am willing to work and live in china for a long period of time in a moderate climate similar to mediterranean climate ,which provinces do u advise me to choose?
Thank u in advance
Regards.
Jun. 19,2009 00:53
Mr.Jack replied:
Well, I think Kunming in Yunnan Province may meet your need, which has comfortable cliamte all year round. However, I don't think there has so much good work opportunity. In this sense, you may consider Qingdao in Shandong Province and Dalian in Liaoning Province. These two coastal cities are so beautiful with moderate climate, too~
3.
Jun. 10,2009 20:09 Reply
Ms.Vyna(Australia) said:
Hello.. I'm looking at travelling to China & Hong Kong in Feb 2010 for the Chinese New Year. Hoping to start in Beijing, travel to Xian, over to Shanghai and down to Hong Kong.
Can someone please tell me, if Feb is a good time to be travelling in China? Will it be very cold? And will the tour operators be operating due to the New Year? Thank you for your help!!
Jun. 11,2009 04:34
Ms.Elizabeth replied:
Hi, Ms. Vyna. Febuary is still cold in China, but if you want to spend the Chinese New Year here, it would be a good idea. Well, keep warm. The average temperature in Feb in Beijing, 0-3C, about 5C in Xian, and about 7C in Shanghai. Yes, tours are operated all year round. Or you can visit these cities before Christmas? Generally speaking, the best time to visit Beijing and Xian is autumn. Hong Kong's climate is favorable in winter.
4.
Jun. 10,2009 20:15 Reply
Ms.Nancy(USA) said:
What is the weather like in Shanghai, Bejing, Hangzhou and Suzhou in March? Thank You!
Jun. 11,2009 04:23
Ms.Jenny replied:
Hi, Nancy. Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou are similar in weather. They are close to each other and In March, the weather is getting warm. The temperature is about 10-15C. However, it is changeable. It will be cold if it is rainy. I came there this March and it is rainy days. You should wear thin sweater and a coat. Beijing in March is windy and the average temperature of this month is about 5C. Hope it helps.
5.
Jun. 1,2009 18:04 Reply
Mr.bob slade said:
IM IN BEIGING AND I AM WONDERING WHAT THE CLIMATE PATTERN THERE IS
THX
Jun. 9,2009 01:12
Mr.Mike replied:
Recently, here is very hot, the average temperature during the daytime may over 30C. But, still some cool cloudy days.
6.
Jun. 8,2009 21:14 Reply
Ms.Adrienne(USA ) said:
I am trying to decide the best time (weather) to visit China. Spring or fall? The tours I am looking at go to Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, and Xian. Does anyone have any other "must see" destinations to recommend?
Thanks, Adrienne
Jun. 9,2009 01:10
Mr.Shan replied:
Generally speaking, the fall in China is much comfortable for going out, very enjoyable climate. As for Beijing and Xi'an, Sep and Oct are the best two months. And, it is said that these two cities do not have spring~ Regarding Shanghai and Guilin, both of spring and Sep in fall are okey~ Please escape from the large number of travelers from Oct1-8 this year~
7.
Jun. 5,2009 06:03 Reply
Mr.MRGEEBEE(United Kingdom) said:
I am planning to do a tour of China in July starting in Beijing, then Yangtse and finishing in Shanghai. Can anyone tell me what weather to expect or if it is better going at a different time of year?
Jun. 9,2009 01:04
Ms.Qi Lu replied:
Well, all of the three places are in summer then, Beijing is dry but cool at early morning, so it is suggested that you don't go out at the midnoon. Yangtze and Shanghai should be muggy. There will be occasional rainfall in Shanghai but not a problem. Even in the cloudy day, please protect you from the strong ultraviolet radiation~
Althoug it is hot during July, but you may found less travelers than the other comfortable travel season. Anyway, not a bad idea~
8.
Jun. 2,2009 23:07 Reply
Ms.Mimi(USA) said:
We will be visiting Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Yueyang, Xiling Gorge area, Shibaozhai, Chongqing and Xian the last week of August and first week of September.
What would you suggest bringing for clothing? Besides an umbrella and rain shoes. Sweaters? Light jacket? Or just long sleeve cotton shirts? Tee shirts?
Thanks!
Jun. 4,2009 02:12
Ms.Sophie replied:
Actually, most of these cities are still in hot summer. I have went to Wuhan-yangtze river-Chonqing from Shanghai at the end of August, 2007. Very hot, so short-sleeves T-shirt is enough. Although it may have heavy rain suddenly, the rain just lasted for a couple of minutes. Well, at the end of last August I have been to Shanghai, muggy days and then heavy rains for a whole day. Just cool for a short time. Both of summer shoes and warterproof shoes are okey~
9.
May. 28,2009 12:26 Reply
Mr.Jhonson(China) said:
Chinas climate is raining poop
10.
May. 26,2009 07:59 Reply
Ms.Griffin(Australia) said:
Well..
I`m living in Shanghai.
But I wanna know the Average temparature in China.
Can you please tell me?
THX!
May. 26,2009 23:09
Ms.Lucy replied:
Wow, it is a huge questions! The average temperature could be displayed by the month. Generally speaking, most part of China is located in the temperate zone, having warm climate and four distinctive seasons. Every Sep to the next April, it is dry and cold. In summer, it is always hot and plenty of rainfall. And, the weather is great different from north to south.