Qinghai Weather in December

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

🔎
Xining Golmud

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

What to Expect in Qinghai in December

Qinghai, China is a region in China. December in Qinghai generally has very cold temperatures, with low precipitation. December falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

You can expect very cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 1°C (34°F) and nighttime temperatures around -16°C (3°F) in Xining. In many areas in China, December brings with it chilling temperatures. When visiting these parts during this time, it's of utmost importance to be ready. Choose clothing that is both layered and insulating to combat the cold effectively.

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

Precipitation

December is a dry month with an average snow/rainfall of around 5.2 mm (0.2 in) in Xining. In Xining, this particular month consistently records the lowest levels of rainfall, making it the driest period throughout the entire year.

Average sunshine

Plenty of sunshine can be expected in numerous places in December. Xining typically receives 228 hours of sunlight, making it ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Qinghai by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Qinghai in December

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

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 Qinghai

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

Temperature range in Qinghai (December)

Precipitation variation in Qinghai (December)

Xining

In December Xining generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 1°C (34°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -16°C (3°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
1°C (34°F)
0°C (32°F)
Min temperature
-10°C (14°F)
-16°C (3°F)
-17°C (1°F)
Monthly sun hours
211 hours
228 hours
213 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
14 mm (0.6 in)
5.2 mm (0.2 in)
7.8 mm (0.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
2 days
3 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Xining →

Golmud

In December Golmud generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -13°C (9°F) and almost no monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
0°C (32°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-13°C (9°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
3.1 mm (0.1 in)
3.2 mm (0.1 in)
4.3 mm (0.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
a single day
a single day
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Golmud →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Xining 1°C (34°F) -16°C (3°F) 5.2 mm (0.2 in)
Golmud 0°C (32°F) -13°C (9°F) 3.2 mm (0.1 in)

Qinghai weather in December: frequently asked questions

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

Qinghai, China typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Xining average around 1°C (34°F), and temperatures drop to about -16°C (3°F) at night.

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

Average temperatures in Qinghai, China during December range from a nighttime low near -16°C (3°F) to a daytime high around 1°C (34°F) in Xining.

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

Rain is generally moderate to light in Qinghai, China during December, with Xining averaging close to 5.2 mm (0.2 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit Qinghai, China?

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

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in June offering mostly perfect weather in Xining. On the other hand, the weather in January, February and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Qinghai.

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 →