Beijing Weather in December

Season: Winter
In short: cold with relatively big daily temperature difference, low precipitation
 The weather of Beijing in December, the middle winter, is chilly, with an average temperature of -2°C (28°F). At the beginning of the month, the daily high temperature hovers around 6 degrees Celsius (43 Fahrenheit) and you won’t feel very cold. But once the sun goes down, the temperature drops quickly, and the daily low is about 8°C (46°F) lower than the daily high. So make sure you dress warm enough if you have a night outing. If you come to Beijing in the second half of the month, you’ll find that the weather gets even colder, with the daily high and low dropping to around 2°C (36°F) and nearly -10°C (14°F) respectively. Therefore, you’d better enjoy your outdoor trips when the sun is present.
 In December, precipitation may be in the form of both rain and snow, and it is more likely to be snow than rain because of the low temperature. However, the precipitation is rare this month, averaging 3mm in about 2 days. According to the historical data, in some years, Beijing did not even have a single day of precipitation in December. As a result, the air is very dry at this time of year.

Great Wall on Snowy Day

 December has the shortest day length of the year, at only 9 hours. This month, the sun rises late at around 07:16 - 07:36, and sets early - no later than 17:00. Therefore, you have less day time to travel around. However, due to the low precipitation and sunny weather, the average daily sunshine duration is about 6 hours. Also, the UV index is at the lowest level of the year, and you don’t need to do any sun protection at all.
 There will be frequent winds in Beijing this month. Generally, the wind will not be too strong to affect travel, but it will make the apparent temperature colder. It is advisable to check the weather forecast in advance and prepare windproof clothing.

 
December is not a good time to visit Beijing from weather’s perspective. Although sunny, the weather is cold and not favorable at all for outdoor visits. In addition, the daylight hours are quite short.

Quiet Summer Palace in December

However, December is no longer the peak tourism season. Traveling to Beijing this month, you will not feel very crowded even at famous attractions like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, and you can save some money on tickets and hotels.