Lanzhou Weather in December

Season: winter
In short: cold, large temperature difference between day and night, scarce snowfall, dry, floating dust 
Average temperature: -8 ~ 3℃ (18 - 37℉)

The weather is chilly in Lanzhou in December. It remains -2 ~ 9 degrees Celsius (28.4 - 48.2 degrees Fahrenheit) during the daytime, and drops to -11 ~ -2℃ (12.2 - 28.4℉) at night. The lowest temperature recorded in the past 10 years was -15℃ (5℉) in 2023. 

Also, it can be seen that a large day-night difference exists, usually around 10℃ (18℉), unless on occasional snowy days when the temperature does not rise much in the day. Early morning is the coldest time of the day, and people don’t feel warm until noon when the sun shines brightly. When the wind blows, mainly along the Yellow River, the perceived temperature can be 2 - 3℃ (3.6 - 5.4℉) lower than the forecast shows. After sunset, it quickly gets chilly again.
 It hardly snows. Only 1 day is snowy with the snowfall of 1 mm (0.04 in) on average. But in recent years, the probability of seeing snow has slightly increased due to frequent cold air. There was 1 day with snowy weather in December in 2022 in Lanzhou, 2 days in 2023, and 4 days in 2024. However, it snows lightly in the downtown part, and relatively heavily in mountainous areas. With dropping temperatures after the snow, the risk of road icing is high. 

The air humidity is unsurprisingly not high, 58% averagely. This, coupled with blowing winds and heating systems, makes people feel dry both outdoors and indoors.

Street of Lanzhou in December

 The daylight in December is the shortest of a year. The sun doesn’t rise until 8 am and sets as early as 6 pm. The sky is not that bright from 4 pm, actually. But don’t worry. It’s the low travel season when you don’t need to spend much time queueing up or transferring between destinations because of traffic jams. Just arrange your itinerary well and make the best use of the daylight.

With a lot of sunny days, Lanzhou can bathe in sunshine for about 6 hours averagely every day this month. But specifically, the cloud brought by cold air, fog, as well as the floating dust sometimes shorten the sunlight. Take the data of 2024 as a reference: the sunshine duration was 8.4 hours on sunny December 15, while less than 1 hour on cloudy December 8 and 9. The UV index is level 2, so you don’t need to take many sun protection measures.  
 About 3 - 5 days are foggy this month, 1 - 2 of which are hazy. The haze concentration reaches its peak in the early morning, which is not a good time for outdoor activities. 

Strong winds with the force of 4 - 5 can bring floating dust or blowing sand, other than cold waves. But they don’t always appear, usually for 2 - 3 days. Travelers should focus on real-time climate conditions during their Lanzhou trip in December and avoid going out on these days. If you still need to, wear a protective mask during the whole journey.
 Up: It’s advisable to wear layers due to the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures. A sweater or hoodie with a bottoming shirt as the inner layer and a padded overcoat or down coat as the outer layer is a good match for outdoor sightseeing. Stepping into indoor places, take off the overcoat in time, in case of sweating.

Bottom: Wear long johns with thick jeans, or single fleece sweatpants. 

Shoes: A pair of snow boots or winter walking boots can not only keep your feet warm, but also are helpful on a frozen road after snow. If you prefer sneakers, remember to pair them with warm socks.

Accessories: Pack hat, scarf, and gloves to use when you walk along the Yellow River or experience sheepskin rafting, as it can be windy and colder.
 1. Visiting Lanzhou in December 2025, you have the chance to see a special sight: the famous Yellow River is not yellow but turns clearly bluish green. That’s because loess sediment carried by the water flow decreases greatly in the low-water season.

2. Some destinations shorten their service time due to fewer tourists and shorter daylight, like White Pagoda Park, and you need to confirm before departure. Popular open sites such as Zhongshan Bridge, Waterwheel Garden, and the Statue of Mother Yellow River and indoor Gansu Provincial Museum are not affected.

Statue of Bingling Temple

Galloping Horse at Gansu Provincial Museum

3. The stone steps at White Pagoda Park and Five Springs Park may be covered by ice after snow. So, be careful, or take a detour along the wooden boardwalk.

4. You don’t need to set off too early in the cold morning, especially when it’s hazy or dusty. 

5. Use lipstick and moisturizing cream to prevent the skin from cracking. Meanwhile, place a basin of water in the hotel room to alleviate the dryness caused by heating.