Gansu Weather in December

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

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Lanzhou Dunhuang Zhangye Jiayuguan

Planning a trip to Gansu, China this December? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Gansu in December

Gansu, China is a region in China. December in Gansu generally has temperatures that range from very cold to cold, with precipitation levels ranging from almost none to low. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between very cold in Xiahe at -1°C (30°F) to cold in Lanzhou at 4°C (39°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -8°C (18°F) in Lanzhou and -18°C (0°F) in Xiahe. December is a very cold month in some areas, so be prepared and make sure to dress up warm.

To explore the conditions in Gansu, China in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no snow/rainfall in Dunhuang with an average of 2.7 mm (0.1 in) to low snow/rainfall in Pingliang with 8.3 mm (0.3 in). Looking at the climate data spanning the last 30 years, this month usually has the lowest rainfall in Lanzhou, marking it as the year's driest month.

Average sunshine

Most areas see decent amounts of sunshine this month. Lanzhou gets around 150 hours of sunlight, providing a pleasant balance of sun and clouds. If you'd prefer more guaranteed sunshine, our weather planner can show you sunnier spots around the world.

Explore Gansu by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Gansu in December

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

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 Gansu

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

Temperature range in Gansu (December)

Precipitation variation in Gansu (December)

Lanzhou

In December Lanzhou generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -8°C (18°F) and almost no monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
Min temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-8°C (18°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Monthly sun hours
173 hours
150 hours
156 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
10 mm (0.4 in)
4.1 mm (0.2 in)
7.6 mm (0.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
2 days
2 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Lanzhou →

Dunhuang

In December Dunhuang generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 1°C (34°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -10°C (14°F) and almost no monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
1°C (34°F)
0°C (32°F)
Min temperature
-4°C (25°F)
-10°C (14°F)
-12°C (10°F)
Monthly sun hours
231 hours
208 hours
220 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
2 mm (0.1 in)
2.7 mm (0.1 in)
1.7 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
a single day
a single day
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Dunhuang →

Zhangye

In December Zhangye generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 2°C (36°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -12°C (10°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
5.1 mm (0.2 in)
5.5 mm (0.2 in)
4.8 mm (0.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
a single day
a single day
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Zhangye →

Jiayuguan

In December Jiayuguan generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -12°C (10°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
0°C (32°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Min temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly snowfall
6.2 mm (0.2 in)
5.5 mm (0.2 in)
5 mm (0.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
2 days
2 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Jiayuguan →

Pingliang

In December Pingliang generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -8°C (18°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
3°C (37°F)
2°C (36°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-8°C (18°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
24 mm (0.9 in)
8.3 mm (0.3 in)
13 mm (0.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
3 days
4 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Pingliang →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Gansu, 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 Gansu in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Lanzhou 4°C (39°F) -8°C (18°F) 4.1 mm (0.2 in)
Dunhuang 1°C (34°F) -10°C (14°F) 2.7 mm (0.1 in)
Zhangye 2°C (36°F) -12°C (10°F) 5.5 mm (0.2 in)
Jiayuguan 0°C (32°F) -12°C (10°F) 5.5 mm (0.2 in)
Pingliang 3°C (37°F) -8°C (18°F) 8.3 mm (0.3 in)
Xiahe -1°C (30°F) -18°C (0°F) 7.6 mm (0.3 in)

Gansu weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Gansu, China in December?

Gansu, China typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Lanzhou average around 4°C (39°F), and temperatures drop to about -8°C (18°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Gansu, China in December?

In Lanzhou, the average daytime high in December is 4°C (39°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around -8°C (18°F).

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

Rain is generally moderate to light in Gansu, China during December, with Lanzhou averaging close to 4.1 mm (0.2 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit Gansu, China?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Lanzhou, December may not be the ideal time to visit Gansu, China.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in April, May, June, July, August and September offering mostly perfect weather in Lanzhou. On the other hand, the weather in January and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Gansu.

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.

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