China

China Weather in January

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

🔎
Beijing Shanghai Guangzhou Qingdao

Are you planning a trip a to China in January and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in China in January

In January, China experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from very cold to warm and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to high. January falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Mohe at -19°C (-2°F) to warm in Jinghong at 26°C (79°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 11°C (52°F) in Jinghong and -32°C (-26°F) in Mohe. Typically, it's the chilliest month of the year. Making it a great time for staying indoors and enjoying the warmth. Make sure you're prepared by packing the right winter outfits.

For a closer look at conditions across China, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no snowfall in Ejin with an average of 0.5 mm (0.02 in) to high snowfall in Yongfu with 136 mm (5.4 in). Going by our weather data, this month in Beijing usually has the least rain, making it the driest month of the year.

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Beijing as an example - it receives around 186 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

Explore China by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in China in January

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

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
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 January for some of the most popular destinations in China?

Temperature range in China (January)

Precipitation variation in China (January)

Beijing

In January Beijing generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -8°C (18°F) and almost no monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-8°C (18°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Monthly sun hours
172 hours
186 hours
188 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
4.6 mm (0.2 in)
4 mm (0.2 in)
7.3 mm (0.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
2 days
3 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Beijing →

Shanghai

In January Shanghai generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
128 hours
112 hours
117 hours
Monthly rainfall
46 mm (1.8 in)
65 mm (2.6 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
11 days
12 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Shanghai →

Guangzhou

In January Guangzhou generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
166 hours
120 hours
72 hours
Monthly rainfall
41 mm (1.6 in)
49 mm (1.9 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
9 days
11 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Guangzhou →

Chengdu

In January Chengdu generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
50 hours
55 hours
51 hours
Monthly rainfall
14 mm (0.6 in)
17 mm (0.7 in)
21 mm (0.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Chengdu →

Xi'an

In January Xi'an generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-3°C (27°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
83 hours
90 hours
97 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
14 mm (0.6 in)
14 mm (0.6 in)
22 mm (0.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
4 days
5 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
tolerable
Climate in Xi'an →

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

In our records: China January extremes

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

  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in China was -43°C (-45°F) in Ergun on January 11, 2001.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Beijing 3°C (37°F) -8°C (18°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Shanghai 9°C (48°F) 3°C (37°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Guangzhou 20°C (68°F) 12°C (54°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Qingdao 5°C (41°F) -2°C (28°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Lijiang 13°C (55°F) -1°C (30°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Sanya 24°C (75°F) 19°C (66°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)

China weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in China in January?

China typically experiences poor weather in January, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Beijing average around 3°C (37°F), and temperatures drop to about -8°C (18°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in China in January?

In Beijing, the average daytime high in January is 3°C (37°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around -8°C (18°F).

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

Rain is generally moderate to light in China during January, with Beijing averaging close to 4 mm (0.2 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit China?

In our view, January might not be the best time to travel to China with often poor weather in Beijing.

Generally speaking, April, September and October provide perfect weather in Beijing. On the other hand, the weather in January and July tend 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.

Be amazed by the Altai mountains

The Atlai mountains are a sparsely populated area that most tourists have not yet discovered. Definitely bucket list material for the adventurous travelers among us.
The Li River: A Journey Through China’s Most Breathtaking Landscape

Explore the Li River, China's breathtaking landscape with majestic mountains, serene waters, and picturesque views. A must-see for every traveler.
Go to China's Zhangjiajie National Park with the highest, the fastest, largest-loaded outdoor elevator in the world

You won't find this unique landscape anywhere else in the world. Thousands of floating mountains overgrown with trees at the top dominate this fairy tale landscape.
Go to Xinjiang in China

In Xinjiang you get to see a mix of East and Central Asia. An experience that you might want to add to your bucket list. You can travel through the province as if you are following an ancient silk route.

Must visit in China →