Mausoleum of General Yue Fei in Spring

Hangzhou weather is generally warm and mild all year round, with abundant sunshine and rainfall. There are four clear-cut seasons – short and rainy spring, hot and humid summer, cool and clear autumn, dry and cold winter. There are two rainy seasons in Hangzhou – one is the Plum Rain Season, and the other is typhoon rain from August to September. The tourist season of Hangzhou is in spring (Mar. to May) and autumn (Sep. to Nov.) when the average temperature is 17 C (63 F). Indeed, Hangzhou presents different beauty in different seasons and under different weather.

Introduction to Hangzhou Climate
Located at subtropical monsoon climate area, Hangzhou is warm and moist, having four distinctive seasons. The coldest month is January, with a temperature of 3 C (37 F) - 5 C (41 F). The hottest days usually falls in July when the average temperature is 29 C (84 F). 

Generally, spring in Hangzhou starts in late March and ends at middle June. The temperature is rising but changeable. Coming to the Qingming Festival, there are usually spring rains which bring away the winter dry and dampen the earth. After the rain, the lakes, hills and pavilions peep out from a thin layer of fog, and the peach blossoms and the willow turns green suddenly. It is the time to stroll on the Su Causeway of the West Lake. It is also the happiest time of the tea growers who are busy harvesting the green tea leaves in their garden. You have to take a thin sweater and a warm jacket with you.

Hangzhou’s summer from late June until late September is usually rainy and hot. The end of June to the early part of July marks is the Meiyu Season (or Plum Rain Season, of about a month long rainy season, beginning in early summer when the plum fruit ripens in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River). From late August to the end of September, typhoons often occur, accompanied with heavy wind and rain. During this period, you should bring an umbrella with you. Even if it does not rain, an umbrella is also a nice prop to take a photo on the Nine Zigzag Bridge of the West Lake with the blossoming lotus flowers.

October to early December is the autumn days in Hangzhou when the sky is always clear, and the city is full of aroma of osmanthus of Manlong Guiyu. A long-sleeved T-shirts and a light overcoat will be enough for a trip in Hangzhou at this time. The peak time should be around the Mid-autumn Festival when people go to watch the Qiangtang River Tide at day time and gather to admire the bright moon at West Lake in the evening.

Winter in Hangzhou is from middle December to middle March. The temperature is usually above 0 C (32 F), with little snow. However, the city suffers severe cold since it is moist and most places are not equipped with heating systems. Down coat, wool sweater, winter boots, scarf, hat and gloves are necessary if going to Hangzhou in winter.