Dalian Weather

Bordered by the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, Dalian is situated at the southern end of the Liaodong Peninsula in northeastern China. This is a warm temperate zone with a semi-moist monsoon climate and ocean climate features. The annual average temperature here is from 8 to 11C (about from 46 to 52F) and it has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Influenced by the mild ocean winds from the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, Dalian weather is pleasant with an annual rainfall of 550 to 1000 millimeters, over 60% of which falls during the summer period.

Dalian's spring begins in late March or early April when the warm southeast ocean winds bring the temperatures up. You need to wear jackets, sweaters, shirts and jeans to protect yourself from the last of the winter's cold.

The best time to travel is from May onwards when the Dalian Chinese Scholar Tree Blossom Affairs and Commodity Export Fair open in the city. They run through to mid-September. The mild and comfortable weather of these months welcome huge numbers of tourists from different areas in China and the world. The summer period from July to early September has an average temperature of around 20C (68F) and in the hottest month of August thousands of people come to the southern seashore in the city to enjoy the sunshine, the sea and exciting water sports. Bring T-shirts, shorts, skirts, sandals, sunglasses, hats and suntan oil with you. The summer is also the rainy period, however most rain falls at night. You will still need to take an umbrella or rainwear with you in the evenings.

In late September, Dalian welcomes autumn and the cold weather begins to control this area. The average temperature drops down to around 15 to 20C (59 to 68F). Whilst tourist crowds retreat from the seashores, it is a perfect time for fishing as it is the migrating season for fish.

From late November, the cold north winds become stronger and dominate the city till the following February. January is the coldest month and you need to wear an overcoat, sweater, jeans, gloves and warm shoes.

In recent years, the government has advocated a special '3S' (spring, sports and shopping) tourist program in the city in order to attract more tourists during the low winter season. Winter sports such as skiing, mountain climbing, horse-racing and winter swimming have attracted many sports adventurers who wish to spend the New Year period in the city. The Ice Festival in Bingyu Valley and the hunting sports in Jinshitai Scenic Area are two of the most popular sightseeing options.