Beijing is the capital of PRC. It is situated close to northern edge of North China Plain. From north and west there are protecting the city from air masses from above Mongolian deserts and steppes. The Great Wall of China stretches along northern border of the city. Climate of the region is formed under influence of East-Asian monsoons and Siberian anticyclones. Monsoons are resulting wet and summers while anticyclones are causing cool, windy and dry winters.

Variety of factors that are influencing weather in Beijing leads to wide annual range of temperatures between -10⁰C (14⁰F) in January and up to 32⁰C (89⁰F) in July. In general summers are hot and rainy while during winters there are cold piercing winds. In some years there is no snow. Transitional seasons are usually short and dry.

Seasons

Contents:

• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn
• Winter

Spring in Beijing

Spring in Beijing is the time of great changes in weather. March is still pretty chilly with daily range of temperature between -1 °C (30 °F) and 11 °C (52 °F), but warmth grows quickly. April is much warmer with around 20 °C (68 °F) at afternoon and 7 °C (44 °F) at night. In My sun shines brightly and warms the air up to 26 °C (79 °F). At night temperature drops to 13 °C (55 °F).

Amount of precipitation grows by bit too from 4 rainy days in March to 6 in May. In general weather in late spring is suitable for strolls. But the weather is compromised by probability of sandstorms. It is impossible to predict their beginning or duration. If one occurs during visit to the city it is better to wait it out somewhere indoor.

Climate of the Spring Months

March Max average t°: +11 °C (52 °F) Min average t°: -1 °C (30 °F) Sundial in the day: 8 hours Rainy days: 2 days Precipitation: 8 mm (0.8")

April Max average t°: +21 °C (70 °F) Min average t°: +7 °C (45 °F) Sundial in the day: 8 hours Rainy days: 2 days Precipitation: 17 mm (0.7")

May Max average t°: +27 °C (81 °F) Min average t°: +13 °C (55 °F) Sundial in the day: 9 hours Rainy days: 4 days Precipitation: 35 mm (1.4")

Spring Holidays

April – International Kite Festival.
April 4-5 – Qingming Festival.
April 8-May 7 – Beijing College Student Film Festival.

May – Intro Music Festival, Beijing Daxing Watermelon Festival.
May 1-3 – Midi Music Festival.
May-June – Beijing Daxing Watermelon Festival.

Summer in Beijing

East-Asian monsoon defines summer weather in Beijing. It causes high temperature and frequent rains occasionally accompanied by thunder. Around 75% of annual amount of precipitation falls during summer and usually it rains at afternoon or at evening. It starts to rain out of blue, so it is better to have an umbrella somewhere around all the time.

Temperature averages are similar for whole season. At afternoons temperature rises to 30-32 °C (86-89 °F). At night air cools down to 18-22 °C (64-71 °F). Due significant difference of daytime and nighttime temperatures evenings may seem cooler than they are.

Climate of the Summer Months

June Max average t°: +32 °C (90 °F) Min average t°: +19 °C (66 °F) Sundial in the day: 9 hours Rainy days: 6 days Precipitation: 80 mm (8.1")

July Max average t°: +32 °C (90 °F) Min average t°: +21 °C (70 °F) Sundial in the day: 7 hours Rainy days: 10 days Precipitation: 240 mm (9.4")

August Max average t°: +30 °C (86 °F) Min average t°: +20 °C (68 °F) Sundial in the day: 7 hours Rainy days: 9 days Precipitation: 140 mm (5.5")

Summer Holidays

June 18 – Dragon Boat Festival.
June-July – Great Wall International Music Academy.
August – Double Seventh Festival, Ghost Day.

Autumn in Beijing

Actual climatic autumn is short in Beijing, but it is the best time to visit the city. In first month of autumn daily range of temperature shifts to more comfortable marks of 14-26 °C (57-71 °F). Amount of precipitation is decreasing too. In October cooling continues. Afternoons are still pretty warm with 19 °C (66 °F), but nights are chilly with 7 °C (44 °F).

In November cooling reaches range of 0-10 °C (32-50 °F), but air becomes drier, so overall state of weather seem to be cool rather than actually cold. Relative dryness and calm winds with daytime temperature ranges are combing into great weather conditions for exploration of the city. Countless local cafes, restaurants and diners will provide warm place if it suddenly become too cold.

Climate of the Autumn Months

September Max average t°: +26 °C (79 °F) Min average t°: +14 °C (57 °F) Sundial in the day: 8 hours Rainy days: 4 days Precipitation: 60 mm (2.4")

October Max average t°: +20 °C (68 °F) Min average t°: +5 °C (41°F) Sundial in the day: 8 hours Rainy days: 1 day Precipitation: 16 mm (0.6")

November Max average t°: +10 °C (50 °F) Min average t°: -2°C (28 °F) Sundial in the day: 6 hours Rainy days: 2 days Precipitation: 10 mm (0.4")

Autumn Holidays

September – Beijing Pop Festival, Beijing Queer Film Festival, Beijing 798 Art Festival.
September-October - Mid-Autumn Festival, Harvest Moon Festival.
September 21-23 – Beijing Jazz Festival.

October – Red Leaf Festival at Fragrant Hill, Beijing Chrysanthemum Exhibition.
October 1-7 – Golden Week.
October 2-4 – Modern Sky Festival.
October 8-29 – Beijing Music Festival.

Winter in Beijing

In terms of weather winter in the capital of China is not as friendly as autumn was. In early December weather gains winter state and will remain in it until early March. Daytime average is between 2 °C (35 °F) and 4 °C (39 °F) but at night air cools down to around -8 °C (17 °F). Occasionally freeze of -20 °C (-4 °F) occurs too, but only at night. On top of it there are strong winds caused by Siberian anticyclone. With them even temperatures above freezing seem cold too. If snows from time to time, but snow doesn’t accumulates. It melts at afternoon and at night freezes into ice crust on the ground with all respective consequences.

Climate of the Winter Months

December Max average t°: +2 °C (36 °F) Min average t°: -8 °C (18 °F) Sundial in the day: 6 hours Rainy days: 1 day Precipitation: 3 mm (0.1")

January Max average t°: +1 °C (34 °F) Min average t°: -11 °C (12 °F) Sundial in the day: 7 hours Rainy days: 1 day Precipitation: 4 mm (0.1")

February Max average t°: +4 °C (39 °F) Min average t°: -8 °C (18 °F) Sundial in the day: 7 hours Rainy days: 1 day Precipitation: 5 mm (0.2")

Winter Holidays

December – Winter Solstice Festival.
December-February – Bird’s Nest Ice and Snow Festival.

Mid-January-late February – Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival.
New moon between the January 21 and February 20 – Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, Beijing Temple Fair.

February – Peoples Day, Lantern Festival.
February 2 – Eryueer Festival.

*Some observances, public holidays and other events are being held according to Chinese Lunar Calendar. Respective dates in Gregorian calendar are vary from year to year.