Beijing Weather: Forecast, Best Time to Visit, Clothing Tips

Written by ivana Updated Jul. 23, 2024

Beijing is located in a warm, temperate zone, enjoying a semi-humid monsoon and continental climate throughout the year. It has four distinct seasons: spring is windy and dusty, hot and rainy summers, cool autumns, and chilly and dry winters.

In Beijing, spring and autumn are very short, each lasting about 1.5-2 months, while summer and winter are quite long, with summer lasting close to four months and winter close to five months. The coldest weather falls in January, and the hottest weather falls in July. Most of the rain falls in summer.

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Beijing Weather Forecast

The Best Time to Visit & Clothing Tips

When is the best time to visit Beijing throughout the year? Spring and Autumn are definitely the best times to go to Beijing.

During spring, Beijing has pleasant temperatures, flowers bloom, and visitors can enjoy boating on the lake in Beihai Park. They can also go for outings in the suburbs, visit the Great Wall, and explore ancient temples.

Autumn is dry and sunny, with comfortable temperatures and beautiful fallen leaves.

Here is a picture showing the weather and travel season in Beijing:

Visiting Beijing in Spring: April to May

Average temperature: 9-21 ℃ (48-70 ℉)
Average rainfall: 56mm
Clothes: cotton-padded jacket, coat, or long-sleeved clothes

Beijing’s spring is short and beautiful, with a large difference in temperature between day and night. The weather is overall mild and dry but sometimes changes a lot, combined with winds, dust, and sandstorms. The colorful spring blooms make it worth a visit to Beijing.

Places to Visit in Beijing in Spring

Flowers are the theme of touring Beijing in spring, so here are some recommended sights for you:

Enjoy the over 500 varieties of peonies at Jingshan Park;
See the 150 apricot trees blooming at the Temple of Heaven;
Admire the beauty of more than 10,000 flowers and plants at Beijing Botanical Garden.

Visiting Beijing in Summer: June to August

Average temperature: 22-31 ℃ (72-88 ℉)
Average rainfall: 399mm
Clothes: T-shirts, rain gear, sun protection

Summer, from June to August, is the hottest and rainiest season in Beijing, thus believed to be the worst season for travel. Besides, if you visit Beijing in July and August, be prepared for the high-tourist season because it is the summer holiday in China.

Places to Visit in Beijing in Summer

Summer has always been the peak season to travel in Beijing, so let’s pick some relatively less crowded sights:

Explore the stunning lit-up Simatai Great Wall at night;
Escape the summer heat at Summer Palace;
Ride a rickshaw or a bicycle in local neighborhoods, Beijing Hutongs.

Visiting Beijing in Autumn: September to October

Average temperature: 9-18 ℃ (48-64 ℉)
Average rainfall: 110mm
Clothes: wind-breakers, light jackets, extra layers

Autumn (October, November) is often the best season to visit Beijing and the Great Wall. It witnesses the fall foliage in the mountains, with the temperatures comfortable to still enjoy sightseeing and outdoor activities, yet escaping the tourist rush of summer.

The mountains are covered with leaves of motley colors: red, yellow, brown, and dark green. There are many fruits in season: grapes, pears, peaches, plums, apricots. You will breathe pure and fresh country air while hiking the Great Wall. If you are a photographer, you may want to try morning and evening shots when the sun is setting.

Places to Visit in Beijing in Autumn

Autumn is considered to be the most beautiful and enjoyable season in Beijing. There are many other wonderful sights to visit:

Put yourself in the charming maple forests of Fragrance Hill;
See the fall foliage of the ginkgo forest at the Temple of Heaven;
See colorful trees in red, gold, and green surrounding the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Visiting Beijing in Winter: November to March

Average temperature: -5-4 ℃ (6-39 ℉)
Average rainfall: 9mm
Clothes: down jackets, thick sweaters, hat, gloves, sturdy boots

Winter in Beijing is long and cold- from November to March of the next year, it lasts nearly 5 months. There might be some snow in December and January- the coldest months, with strong winds and below-zero temperatures.

It is not a very good time to travel to Beijing, but you can enjoy interesting winter activities like skating or skiing and the cheaper prices for hotels and tickets.

Places to Visit in Beijing in Winter

Winter belongs to the slack season for tourism but it is the best season to enjoy the snow scenes and experience the most authentic old Beijing. Follow the list below and appreciate Beijing’s winter:

Visit the Forbidden City after a snowfall;
See the Badaling Great Wall winding along with the unending ranges of snow-clad mountains;
Immerse yourself in the celebrations of Chinese New Year at the Lama Temple – temple fairs, and Hutongs – festive folk activities.

Times You Should Avoid

Being the capital of China, Beijing has been always the top destination for Chinese people to travel. If you want to avoid the overwhelming crowds and over-priced hotels, it is suggested not to visit Beijing during Chinese holidays:

Spring Festival (late January or early February), May Day (May 1st to 5th), and Chinese National Day holidays (October 1st to 7th), as well as summer holidays from July to August every year.

Beijing Annual Average Temperature and Rainfall

Beijing exhibits clear monsoonal characteristics, the average annual temperature is around 13.3°C. The coldest month (January) has an average temperature of -2.7°C, while the hottest month (July) has an average temperature of 27.2°C.

Beijing has an average annual rainfall of 528 millimeters, with 80% of the annual precipitation concentrated in the summer months of June, July, and August, with heavy rain occurring in July and August.

Beijing Annual Average Temperature and Rainfall

Beijing Air Quality

Beijing AQI

Visit Beijing with Us

How to ensure your travel experience in Beijing when it’s rainy, snowy, or smoggy? If you tour Beijing with us, our experienced English-speaking guides will escort you and adjust your itinerary according to the weather changes. They are local and know everything about Beijing.

Please feel free to share your tour ideas. Perhaps one of our best Beijing tours will interest you: