Gansu Weather in January

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

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Lanzhou Dunhuang Zhangye Jiayuguan

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

What to Expect in Gansu in January

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

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is very cold in Xiahe at -3°C (27°F) to cold in Lanzhou at 2°C (36°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -10°C (14°F) in Lanzhou and -20°C (-4°F) in Xiahe. 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.

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

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no snow/rainfall in Dunhuang with an average of 1.7 mm (0.1 in) to low snow/rainfall in Pingliang with 13 mm (0.5 in).

Average sunshine

Most areas see decent amounts of sunshine this month. Lanzhou gets around 156 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

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

January2°C (36°F) February7°C (45°F) March13°C (55°F) April19°C (66°F) May23°C (73°F) June27°C (81°F) This monthJuly29°C (84°F) August27°C (81°F) September22°C (72°F) October16°C (61°F) November10°C (50°F) December4°C (39°F)
Best Time to Visit Gansu →

Best Places to Visit in Gansu in January

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 January for some of the most popular destinations in Gansu, China?

Temperature range in Gansu (January)

Precipitation variation in Gansu (January)

Lanzhou

In January Lanzhou generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 2°C (36°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -10°C (14°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-10°C (14°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
150 hours
156 hours
181 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
4.1 mm (0.2 in)
7.6 mm (0.3 in)
10 mm (0.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
2 days
3 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Lanzhou →

Dunhuang

In January Dunhuang generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -12°C (10°F) and almost no monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
1°C (34°F)
0°C (32°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
-10°C (14°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
208 hours
220 hours
219 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
2.7 mm (0.1 in)
1.7 mm (0.1 in)
1.5 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
a single day
2 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Dunhuang →

Zhangye

In January Zhangye generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 1°C (34°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -15°C (5°F) and almost no monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-11°C (12°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
5.5 mm (0.2 in)
4.8 mm (0.2 in)
5.2 mm (0.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
a single day
2 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Zhangye →

Jiayuguan

In January Jiayuguan generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C (28°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C (7°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
0°C (32°F)
-2°C (28°F)
3°C (37°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-14°C (7°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Monthly snowfall
5.5 mm (0.2 in)
5 mm (0.2 in)
5.3 mm (0.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
2 days
3 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Jiayuguan →

Pingliang

In January Pingliang generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 2°C (36°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -10°C (14°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
2°C (36°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-10°C (14°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
8.3 mm (0.3 in)
13 mm (0.5 in)
21 mm (0.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
4 days
6 days
Weather conditions
poor
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 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 Gansu in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Lanzhou 2°C (36°F) -10°C (14°F) 7.6 mm (0.3 in)
Dunhuang 0°C (32°F) -12°C (10°F) 1.7 mm (0.1 in)
Zhangye 1°C (34°F) -15°C (5°F) 4.8 mm (0.2 in)
Jiayuguan -2°C (28°F) -14°C (7°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Pingliang 2°C (36°F) -10°C (14°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Xiahe -3°C (27°F) -20°C (-4°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)

Gansu weather in January: frequently asked questions

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

Gansu, China typically experiences poor weather in January, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Lanzhou average around 2°C (36°F), and temperatures drop to about -10°C (14°F) at night.

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

Average temperatures in Gansu, China during January range from a nighttime low near -10°C (14°F) to a daytime high around 2°C (36°F) in Lanzhou.

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

Not particularly. Lanzhou averages just 7.6 mm (0.3 in) of snow/rain in January, making it a mostly dry month for Gansu, China.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Gansu, China?

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

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

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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