Kashgar Weather in January
Season: Winter
In short: cold and dry, with short daylight hours
Average Temperature: -11 - 0°C (12-32°F), the lowest in the 12 months
For most places in Kashgar, the weather is cold but not exceptionally so. During the daytime, the temperature occasionally dips below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), but mostly hovers around 0-5°C (32-41°F). The temperature gap between day and night is significant, and the low drops to around -10 to -5°C (14-23°F) after sunset.
Areas in the Pamir Plateau in January are characterized by extreme cold weather, with the temperature remaining below freezing even during daylight hours. For instance, in Tashkurgan, the daily highs range from -10 to 0°C (14-32°F), while the daily lows plummet to -20 to -10°C (-4 - 14°F).
Yes, it does, but not much. On average, there are only about 3 mm of snowfall in Kashgar in January, and most days are sunny or cloudy at that time.
Low-altitude areas like Kashgar City may experience several light snowfalls this month. You have the chance to see the distinctive architecture of Kashgar Old Town covered in a thin layer of snow, though it will melt quickly. For those hoping to see accumulated snow, higher-altitude regions are more recommended, as these areas may receive slightly more snowfall and could potentially experience heavy snow.
With an average humidity of about 66%, the weather of Kashgar is somewhat dry.
The sun rises at around 10:04-10:16 and sets at 19:43-20:14 this month, leading to relatively short daylight hours of about 10. So, you may need to reduce the number of attractions on your daily itinerary or expand your stay time if you want a relatively relaxed trip.
Though the precipitation is low, the sunshine hours are not very long at about 5 since there are some cloudy days.
See also: Xinjiang Weather in January
As mentioned above, Kashgar climate in January features low temperature and short daylight hours, stopping some tourists to visit it during this period. Consequently, Kashgar in January features only a small number of tourists and cheap hotels. For instance, Kashgar Old Town and the Id Kah Mosque are exceptionally quiet at this time, making them ideal for leisurely exploration and photography. However, since January is the slack season, some shops in the Old Town may be closed.
In terms of the Pamir Plateau, it transforms into a vast world of ice and snow this month: beyond the continuous snow-capped mountains, you can also witness the frozen White Sand Lake and Karakul Lake, spectacular and unique. Should snow fall, everything will be blanketed in a thick layer of white.
So, for visitors who can tolerate the coldness, like snowy landscapes, and enjoy tranquility, January is actually not a bad month to visit Kashgar.
Clothes: If you plan to visit Kashgar in January 2026, the most important thing is to keep warm. For most areas, you are recommended to wear thermal shirts, sweaters, and down coats as the upper, and thermal pants and thick trousers as the bottom. When heading to areas in the Pamir Plateau, you need to wear thicker ones. In specific, you are advised to add a fleece jacket between the sweater and the down coat, and change the thick trousers into windproof and thick outdoor pants.
Shoes: Thick enough and anti-slip hiking shoes or boots are good choices. When going to high-altitude areas, you are recommended to wear thick and long socks.
Other Items:
1. Other items to keep warm: scarves, hats, gloves, and masks.
2. To protect your lips and skin in the dry air, you need to bring lip balms, body lotions, and moisturizers.
1. Some attractions and roads may be closed if heavy snow falls, so it’s necessary to pay attention to the related information on snowy days.
2. If you are sensitive to coldness, reduce outdoor activities during nighttime and early morning hours but try to arrange them for 12:00 to 19:00, the warmest period of the day.
3. The beauty of natural scenery is highly dependent on weather conditions, so it is recommended to schedule visits to natural landscapes on sunny days.
4. The indoor places are even drier due to the use of air conditioning and other heating equipment, so try to book a hotel that provides humidifiers.
In short: cold and dry, with short daylight hours
How Cold Is Kashgar in January?
For most places in Kashgar, the weather is cold but not exceptionally so. During the daytime, the temperature occasionally dips below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), but mostly hovers around 0-5°C (32-41°F). The temperature gap between day and night is significant, and the low drops to around -10 to -5°C (14-23°F) after sunset.
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| Cold Karakuri Lake in January |
Areas in the Pamir Plateau in January are characterized by extreme cold weather, with the temperature remaining below freezing even during daylight hours. For instance, in Tashkurgan, the daily highs range from -10 to 0°C (14-32°F), while the daily lows plummet to -20 to -10°C (-4 - 14°F).
Does It Snow in Kashgar, China, in January?
Low-altitude areas like Kashgar City may experience several light snowfalls this month. You have the chance to see the distinctive architecture of Kashgar Old Town covered in a thin layer of snow, though it will melt quickly. For those hoping to see accumulated snow, higher-altitude regions are more recommended, as these areas may receive slightly more snowfall and could potentially experience heavy snow.
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| Snowy View of Kashgar |
With an average humidity of about 66%, the weather of Kashgar is somewhat dry.
Daylight Hours/ Sunshine Hours
Though the precipitation is low, the sunshine hours are not very long at about 5 since there are some cloudy days.
See also: Xinjiang Weather in January
What Is Kashgar Like in January?
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| Quiet Kashgar Old Town |
In terms of the Pamir Plateau, it transforms into a vast world of ice and snow this month: beyond the continuous snow-capped mountains, you can also witness the frozen White Sand Lake and Karakul Lake, spectacular and unique. Should snow fall, everything will be blanketed in a thick layer of white.
So, for visitors who can tolerate the coldness, like snowy landscapes, and enjoy tranquility, January is actually not a bad month to visit Kashgar.
What to Wear in Kashgar in January
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Clothes: If you plan to visit Kashgar in January 2026, the most important thing is to keep warm. For most areas, you are recommended to wear thermal shirts, sweaters, and down coats as the upper, and thermal pants and thick trousers as the bottom. When heading to areas in the Pamir Plateau, you need to wear thicker ones. In specific, you are advised to add a fleece jacket between the sweater and the down coat, and change the thick trousers into windproof and thick outdoor pants. Shoes: Thick enough and anti-slip hiking shoes or boots are good choices. When going to high-altitude areas, you are recommended to wear thick and long socks. Other Items:1. Other items to keep warm: scarves, hats, gloves, and masks.
2. To protect your lips and skin in the dry air, you need to bring lip balms, body lotions, and moisturizers.
Tips for Kashgar Trip in January
2. If you are sensitive to coldness, reduce outdoor activities during nighttime and early morning hours but try to arrange them for 12:00 to 19:00, the warmest period of the day.
3. The beauty of natural scenery is highly dependent on weather conditions, so it is recommended to schedule visits to natural landscapes on sunny days.
4. The indoor places are even drier due to the use of air conditioning and other heating equipment, so try to book a hotel that provides humidifiers.
7-Day Kashgar Weather Forecast
Kashgar Weather by Month
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- Last updated on Oct. 17, 2025 by Demi Li -