Lijiang

China Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in China in December.

Planning a journey to China this December and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in China in December

China offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In December, one might encounter temperatures that range from very cold to warm, and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to moderate. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Mohe at -20°C (-4°F) to warm in Sanya at 25°C (77°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 19°C (66°F) in Sanya and -31°C (-24°F) in Mohe. In numerous regions in China, December is marked by its cold weather conditions. If you're heading to these areas during this month, it's vital to be well-prepared. Dressing in layered and insulated outfits will ensure you stay warm.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of China, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no snowfall in Ejin with an average of 0.8 mm (0.03 in) to moderate snowfall in Wanning with 99 mm (3.9 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is moderately available across various locations. In Beijing, you can expect around 172 hours of sunlight in December, which gives a pleasant combination of sun and shade. For those who want maximum sunshine, our weather planner can point you toward the sunniest places on Earth.

Explore China by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in China — and find the best time to visit. (based on Beijing)

Best Places to Visit in China in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across China.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in China

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in China?

Temperature range in China (December)

Precipitation variation in China (December)

Beijing

In December Beijing generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C (21°F) and almost no monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Monthly sun hours
175 hours
172 hours
186 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
16 mm (0.6 in)
4.6 mm (0.2 in)
4 mm (0.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
2 days
2 days
Weather conditions

Shanghai

In December Shanghai generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
132 hours
128 hours
112 hours
Monthly rainfall
59 mm (2.3 in)
46 mm (1.8 in)
65 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
10 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Guangzhou

In December Guangzhou generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
22°C (72°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
18°C (64°F)
13°C (55°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
172 hours
166 hours
120 hours
Monthly rainfall
40 mm (1.6 in)
41 mm (1.6 in)
49 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
6 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Chengdu

In December Chengdu generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
57 hours
50 hours
55 hours
Monthly rainfall
26 mm (1 in)
14 mm (0.6 in)
17 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
8 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Xi'an

In December Xi'an generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Monthly sun hours
93 hours
83 hours
90 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
40 mm (1.6 in)
14 mm (0.6 in)
14 mm (0.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
4 days
4 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in China.

In our records: China December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in China in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest December night in China dropped to -50°C (-58°F) in Ergun on December 31, 2009.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in China in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Beijing 5°C (41°F) -6°C (21°F) 4.6 mm (0.2 in)
Shanghai 12°C (54°F) 5°C (41°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Guangzhou 22°C (72°F) 13°C (55°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Qingdao 8°C (46°F) 1°C (34°F) 19 mm (0.7 in)
Lijiang 14°C (57°F) -1°C (30°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Sanya 25°C (77°F) 19°C (66°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)

China weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in China in December?

In December, China generally has unpleasant weather conditions. Beijing sees daytime temperatures near 5°C (41°F), with nights cooling to roughly -6°C (21°F).

What is the average temperature in China in December?

Average temperatures in China during December range from a nighttime low near -6°C (21°F) to a daytime high around 5°C (41°F) in Beijing.

Does China get a lot of snow/rain in December?

December is on the drier side in China. Beijing averages only about 4.6 mm (0.2 in), with most days staying dry.

Is December a Good Time to Visit China?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit China due to the typically poor weather in Beijing.

On average, the best time to visit China is in April, September and October with generally perfect weather in Beijing. The weather in January and July, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in China.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to China? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in China.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.