Qinghai Weather in January

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

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Xining Golmud

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

What to Expect in Qinghai in January

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

Temperatures

You can expect very cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 0°C (32°F) and nighttime temperatures around -17°C (1°F) in Xining. 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 Qinghai, China, check out the map below.

Precipitation

January is a dry month with an average snowfall of around 7.8 mm (0.3 in) in Xining.

Average sunshine

Most destinations offer generous amounts of sunshine this January. For example, Xining gets approximately 213 hours of sunlight, perfect for anyone wanting bright, sunny days.

Explore Qinghai by month

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

January0°C (32°F) February4°C (39°F) March9°C (48°F) April14°C (57°F) May18°C (64°F) June20°C (68°F) This monthJuly22°C (72°F) August22°C (72°F) September18°C (64°F) October12°C (54°F) November6°C (43°F) December1°C (34°F)
Best Time to Visit Qinghai →

Best Places to Visit in Qinghai in January

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

Temperature range in Qinghai (January)

Precipitation variation in Qinghai (January)

Xining

In January Xining generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -17°C (1°F) and low monthly snowfall. 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)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
-16°C (3°F)
-17°C (1°F)
-13°C (9°F)
Monthly sun hours
228 hours
213 hours
201 hours
Monthly snowfall
5.2 mm (0.2 in)
7.8 mm (0.3 in)
12 mm (0.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
3 days
4 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Xining →

Golmud

In January Golmud generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -1°C (30°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -15°C (5°F) and almost no monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
0°C (32°F)
-1°C (30°F)
3°C (37°F)
Min temperature
-13°C (9°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-11°C (12°F)
Monthly snowfall
3.2 mm (0.1 in)
4.3 mm (0.2 in)
4.6 mm (0.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
a single day
a single day
Weather conditions
poor
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 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 Qinghai in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Xining 0°C (32°F) -17°C (1°F) 7.8 mm (0.3 in)
Golmud -1°C (30°F) -15°C (5°F) 4.3 mm (0.2 in)

Qinghai weather in January: frequently asked questions

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

Qinghai, China typically experiences poor weather in January, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Xining average around 0°C (32°F), and temperatures drop to about -17°C (1°F) at night.

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

Daytime temperatures in Xining peak at roughly 0°C (32°F) in January, dropping to about -17°C (1°F) overnight.

Does Qinghai, China get a lot of snow in January?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Qinghai, China during January, with Xining averaging close to 7.8 mm (0.3 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit Qinghai, China?

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

On average, the best time to visit Qinghai, China is in June with generally perfect weather in Xining. On the other hand, the months of January, February and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

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.

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