Dunhuang Temperature by Month
The average annual maximum temperature in Dunhuang, Gansu, China is 19°C (66°F), with daytime highs ranging from 0°C (32°F) in January to 35°C (95°F) in July. This page covers monthly averages, day-night differences, and how Dunhuang compares to cities worldwide.
Dunhuang Monthly Temperatures
In Dunhuang, temperatures differ significantly between summer and winter months. Nighttime lows reflect this range, dropping from 21°C (70°F) in July to -12°C (10°F) in January.
The chart below illustrates the average maximum day and minimum night temperatures in Dunhuang by month:
Daily lows are most common between 4 AM and 6 AM. By 3 PM temperatures reach their daily high, driven by peak solar heating. July, the warmest month of the year, receives 319 hours of sunshine.
The chart below shows the average temperature throughout the year:
Daily Historical Temperatures
50-year average (1976-2025)
Average high and low temperatures for each day of the month based on long-term records.
Average temperatures in May
Historical Dunhuang Temperatures: 1976-2026
Browse day-by-day temperature records for Dunhuang spanning 51 years. Select any month and year to see actual high and low temperatures recorded on each day.
Temperature: Dunhuang vs China
The map below shows the annual temperature across China. You can also select individual months if you want to compare a specific time of year.
very warm
warm
pleasant
moderate
cold
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Dunhuang vs World: Temperature Compared
Dunhuang's average annual maximum temperature is 19°C (66°F). To put that in context, here's how it compares to a few well-known destinations:
Rome, Italy averages 20°C (68°F) annually, with reliably warm summers and comfortable winters.
Zermatt, Switzerland averages just 4°C (39°F) annually due to its altitude, with very cold winters and cool summers even at its warmest.
New York City, USA averages 17°C (63°F) a year, with hot humid summers and cold winters that bring regular snowfall.
Adelaide, Australia averages 21°C (70°F) a year, with warm summers, mild winters, and relatively low rainfall year-round.
What Does the Temperature Feel Like in Dunhuang?
Temperature alone doesn't tell the whole story — humidity plays a big role in how warm or cold it actually feels. High humidity in summer makes the heat feel more intense, particularly once temperatures climb above 25°C. In winter, the same humidity can make cold air feel sharper than the thermometer suggests.
In the cooler months, when temperatures drop below 10°C, high humidity makes the cold feel more cutting than it would in dry conditions.
In Dunhuang, January is the coolest month, with average highs of 0°C (32°F) and humidity around 52% — considered moderate. In July, the warmest month, temperatures average 35°C (95°F) with 45% humidity — conditions that feel moderate. For a full picture, see our humidity page.
Climate temperature data is typically calculated as a 30-year average. This smooths out year-to-year variability and gives a more reliable picture of what a place is actually like, rather than what happened in any single unusual year.
The readings come from a range of sources — land-based weather stations, ocean buoys, ships, and satellites. That data is collected by weather services around the world, then pooled, quality-checked, and averaged to produce the climate records you see here.
For cities and regions with significant elevation, altitude is one of the biggest factors shaping local temperatures. As a rule of thumb, temperatures fall by around 6°C for every 1,000 metres gained — so a city at 2,000 metres will typically be around 12°C cooler than a city at sea level in the same region. Higher ground also tends to see more dramatic day-to-night temperature swings, since thinner air loses heat faster after sunset.
For more on Dunhuang's weather — including monthly rainfall, sunshine hours, and humidity — visit our Dunhuang climate page.
