Xi'an Weather in December
Season: Winter
1. The weather of Xi’an in December is cold, especially in the second half month.
2. It may snow, but occasionally and lightly.
3. December is a quiet time to enjoy the solemn ancient city, as the number of tourists is low.
Cold Winter
Xi'an weather in December is freezing. The daytime temperature is about 6°C (42°F) and the nighttime temperature is -3°C (27°F) on average. Generally speaking, at the beginning of the month, Xi’an may experience a few not-so-cold days, when the daily high can reach about 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), and the daily low can still stabilize above 0°C (32°F). But from the middle of the month on, it becomes very cold. The daily high is around 5°C (41°F) and even occasionally falls below 0°C (32°F), while the daily low is below -3°C (27°F), the average nighttime temperature, on most days. On the coldest day of the month, the daily minimum temperature may only be around -10°C (14°F). The good news is that the indoor sites are always supplied with heating.
The temperature change between daytime and nighttime is big, and sometimes it even reaches about 15°C (59°F). So try to stay indoors in the cold night, or add more clothes when going out.
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| Cold but Sunny Days in December |
Low Precipitation & Humidity
December in Xi’an has very low precipitation and ranks as the driest month of the year. It snows occasionally and slightly. As the temperature is not low enough sometimes, rain also exists. On average, there are about 3 days with drizzle, sleet, or slight snow. Due to the low frequency, you only have a quite small possibility of being influenced by these weather conditions.
Humidity decreases to 69%, and you may feel dry easily, especially in your hotel rooms where the heating equipment is working.
Short Daylight & Sunshine Hours
The daytime length is only about 10 hours this month, with the sunrise and sunset times of 07:32-07:50 and 17:35-17:45, respectively. So, if you want to visit Xi’an this month, you’d better make plans in advance and make full use of the warmer daylight hours. As for the sunshine hours, it is only 4 hours or around on average. This is because the weather conditions are relatively complicated this month: there are lots of cloudy and overcast days, and fog and haze occur occasionally.
With a UV index of 3, the impact of UV rays can be ignored in December.
Averages for Xi'an Weather in December
Temperature: 1°C /34°F
High Temperature: 6°C / 43°F
Low Temperature: -3°C / 27°F
Humidity: 69%
Rainfall: 6 mm
Rainy Days: 3 days
Sunrise: 07:32 ~ 07:50
Sunset: 17:35 ~ 17:45
Air Quality in December
Average AQI:110
Average AQI:110
Pros and Cons of Traveling to Xi’an in December
Cons: First, you may feel cold when paying outdoor visits. Second, occasional haze may lead to low air quality, and may somehow influence the visibility. Third, the sky turns dark quite early per day, and you have limited daytime for visit. Fourth, the natural scenery is not as vivid and lively as in other seasons. In all, December may not be a very good visiting time, and if you plan to travel to Xi’an this month, some measures should be taken to make your travel experience better. |
| Quiet Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in December |
Pros: Fewer people choose to visit Xi’an in December due to its cold weather, making this month the low season. Traveling to Xi’an this month, you can see a quiet and solemn ancient city. At the same time, you will spend less: hotels, air tickets, and some attractions like the Terracotta Army will adopt low season admission fee.What to Wear to Keep Warm in December
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Clothes: Be sure to bring thick enough winter clothes. For the outer layer, thick down jackets are necessary to hold off the coldness. For the inner layers, you are advised to wear relatively thin ones on days with more indoor attractions where heating system is on, for example, shirts plus knitwear or hoodies may be suitable; while on days that you plan to visit more outdoor attractions like the City Wall, you may need to wear sweaters plus velvet long-sleeved bases, especially in the second half month. In terms of the bottom, long johns or thermal pants plus thick jeans or sweatpants will keep you warm. Shoes: There are three main points that you should consider when packing shoes for your Xi’an trip in December: warm enough to defeat the coldness, anti-slippery to walk safely on roads on possible snowy days, and comfortable enough for long-distance walking. Therefore, thick and anti-slippery hiking boots or sneakers are recommended. Other Necessities: Masks are essential to guard against the possible haze. Besides, bring skin care to protect your skin from the windy, cold, and dry climate of Xi’an in December. When climbing Huashan Mountain, gloves, scarves, and hats should be worn.Highlights for Xi’an Trip in December
Besides visiting the well-known attractions of Xi’an like the Terracotta Army, there are also some special highlights this month: snowfall view. On snowy days, you are highly recommended to appreciate the snowy scenery of the City Wall and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Besides, if you are in Xi’an on December 31, 2025, do not miss the lively and interesting activities in places like the Bell Tower to welcome the New Year.
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| City Wall Covered by Snow |
For visitors who plan to spend relatively long time in Xi’an in December, skiing and skating are seasonal activities. Cuihua Mountain Ski Resorts and White Deer Plain Ski Resort are two famous and popular ski resorts in Xi'an. In addition, it is pleasant to soak in a hot spring in winter. The most well-known hot spring of Xi'an is the Tangyu Hot Spring in the southern suburb of the city.
Recommended Tours
What to Do in Xi’an in Winter - 7 Best Destinations
Advice for Xi’an Trip in December
1. You can keep your schedule a little compact, after all, the daylight hours are short this month. The good thing is there are fewer people and almost no lines in various attractions, so don’t worry that you won’t be able to finish your visit within the time you’ve planned.
2. In the last a few days in December, many visitors will come to Xi’an to spend the upcoming New Year holiday, and hotel prices will climb a bit. Therefore, if you plan to visit Xi’an during this period, you are recommended to book hotels in advance to try to save some money.
3. Indoor attractions, like the Shaanxi History Museum and the Terracotta Army, are more recommended during the colder morning hours, also when the weather is foggy.
4. A warmer afternoon may be the best period in cold December to bike on the City Wall, since you may feel relatively windy there, which brings lower apparent temperature.
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7-Day Xi'an Weather Forecast
What is the temperature in Xi'an in December?
High/Low Temperatures of Xi'an in December
Air Quality of Xi'an in December
Historical Xi'an Weather in December
| Dec | Temperature | Sunrise / Sunset | Humi- dity (%) | |
| High | Low | |||
| 1 | 17.6°C / 63.7°F | 3.3°C / 37.9°F | 07:32 / 17:35 | 52 |
| 2 | 13.0°C / 55.4°F | 1.0°C / 33.8°F | 07:33 / 17:35 | 59 |
| 3 | 12.1°C / 53.8°F | 4.6°C / 40.3°F | 07:34 / 17:34 | 51 |
| 4 | 9.5°C / 49.1°F | 1.5°C / 34.7°F | 07:35 / 17:34 | 28 |
| 5 | 3.9°C / 39.0°F | -3.4°C / 25.9°F | 07:36 / 17:34 | 33 |
| 6 | 4.5°C / 40.1°F | -4.6°C / 23.7°F | 07:37 / 17:34 | 48 |
| 7 | 14.6°C / 58.3°F | -1.0°C / 30.2°F | 07:37 / 17:34 | 45 |
| 8 | 17.9°C / 64.2°F | 3.1°C / 37.6°F | 07:38 / 17:35 | 38 |
| 9 | 18.8°C / 65.8°F | 3.2°C / 37.8°F | 07:39 / 17:35 | 54 |
| 10 | 17.1°C / 62.8°F | 4.1°C / 39.4°F | 07:40 / 17:35 | 49 |
| 11 | 11.4°C / 52.5°F | 1.8°C / 35.2°F | 07:40 / 17:35 | 53 |
| 12 | 13.3°C / 55.9°F | 3.0°C / 37.4°F | 07:41 / 17:35 | 55 |
| 13 | 13.2°C / 55.8°F | 1.9°C / 35.4°F | 07:42 / 17:36 | 48 |
| 14 | 9.9°C / 50.0°F | 0.5°C / 32.9°F | 07:43 / 17:36 | 62 |
| 15 | 8.6°C / 47.5°F | -1.4°C / 29.5°F | 07:43 / 17:36 | 77 |
| 16 | 11.6°C / 52.9°F | -1.6°C / 29.1°F | 07:44 / 17:36 | 81 |
| 17 | 10.4°C / 50.7°F | -0.2°C / 31.6°F | 07:44 / 17:37 | 77 |
| 18 | 7.1°C / 44.8°F | -1.1°C / 30.0°F | 07:45 / 17:37 | 85 |
| 19 | 14.3°C / 57.7°F | -1.0°C / 30.2°F | 07:46 / 17:38 | 73 |
| 20 | 9.7°C / 49.5°F | 2.5°C / 36.5°F | 07:46 / 17:38 | 58 |
| 21 | 8.6°C / 47.5°F | -3.5°C / 25.7°F | 07:47 / 17:39 | 22 |
| 22 | -1.8°C / 28.8°F | -8.7°C / 16.3°F | 07:47 / 17:39 | 24 |
| 23 | 4.1°C / 39.4°F | -4.0°C / 24.8°F | 07:48 / 17:40 | 35 |
| 24 | 8.7°C / 47.7°F | -4.6°C / 23.7°F | 07:48 / 17:40 | 52 |
| 25 | 5.6°C / 42.1°F | -4.4°C / 24.1°F | 07:48 / 17:41 | 51 |
| 26 | 6.9°C / 44.4°F | 0.8°C / 33.4°F | 07:49 / 17:41 | 44 |
| 27 | 3.0°C / 37.4°F | -3.6°C / 25.5°F | 07:49 / 17:42 | 57 |
| 28 | 8.2°C / 46.8°F | 2.5°C / 36.5°F | 07:50 / 17:43 | 46 |
| 29 | 4.1°C / 39.4°F | -0.9°C / 30.4°F | 07:50 / 17:43 | 48 |
| 30 | 3.1°C / 37.6°F | -5.3°C / 22.5°F | 07:50 / 17:44 | 66 |
| 31 | 3.8°C / 38.8°F | -5.1°C / 22.8°F | 07:50 / 17:45 | 54 |
- Last updated on Jul. 28, 2025 by Demi Li -