Asia China China Guide Things To Do Essentials Itineraries All China Weather in Northwest China: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature By Sara Naumann Sara Naumann LinkedIn Twitter Sarah Naumann is a long-term Shanghai resident and expert on travel to China. She currently writes for Air France's Flying Blue China Club. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 12/09/20 Fact checked by Jillian Dara Fact checked by Jillian Dara Instagram Emerson College Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Michelin Guides, Hemispheres, DuJour, and Forbes. TripSavvy's fact-checking Share Pin Email At the foot of Mustagh Ata on Karakul Lake, Xinjiang. Sara Naumann The northwestern part of China becomes more like Central Asia than Eastern Asia. The climate is extremely arid and dry, but the terrain is some of the most beautiful in China. It is here that the historic Silk Road snaked from its Eastern terminus at Xi'an across the mountains and deserts through Central Asia an on to Europe. Travelers will feel the extremes of Chinese weather when traveling here. Major Cities in Northwest China IMAGEMORE Co. Ltd./Getty Images Tianshui Tianshui has a cold, semi-arid climate that is influenced by the city's location in the Jie River valley. It experiences four distinct seasons, with cold and dry winters and warm and humid summers. Winter temperatures average around 28 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 2 degrees Celsius), while summer temperatures usually are about 73 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius). The wettest season spans June to September. TPG/Getty Images Xining Xining has a pleasant climate that has earned it the nickname of China's "Summer Resort Capital." Summers are cool and the city generally experiences a cold, semi-arid climate. January temperatures average 19 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 7 degrees Celsius), while July climbs above 60 degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees Celsius). It's one of the warmer locations in Qinghai, and the city is mostly dry and sunny. Silkwayrain/Getty Images Xi'an Xi'an temperature climate is influenced by the East Asian monsoon seasons. The city experiences hot, humid summers, cold winters, and dry stretches during the spring and fall. There's occasionally snow during the winter, but it doesn't last very long. Xi'an is also subject to dust storms in early spring, as temperatures increase. Summer thunderstorms are common, too. Temperatures hover around freezing in January but increase to an average of 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) by July. gionnixxx/Getty Images Yinchuan Yinchuan's cold desert climate means minimal rainfall (7.7 inches annually), dry winters, and short summers. Temperatures in January are chilly, averaging just 18 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 8 degrees Celsius), and summers are quite cool, reaching 74 F (24 C) in July. The temperature variation between day and night is typically quite considerable, due to the city's arid climate. Phiriya Panuthai/Getty Images Urumqi Urumqi is a continental, semi-arid climate that sees vast differences between summer and winter temperatures. July's daily average is 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius), whereas January is downright frigid, averaging around 9 F (minus 13 C). The average annual temperature is 44 F (7 C), but temperatures as cold as -43 F (-41.5 C) have been experienced in the past. Winter in Northwest China The region gets the most extreme weather during winter. Temperatures drop to way below freezing, and some areas even close for the season. For example, tourist hotels don't operate from the end of October through April along the Karakoram Highway in Xinjiang, and you'd be miserable looking at the Buddhist paintings inside the Mogao caves in December. The bottom line is, Northwest China is pretty forbidding during this time of year, and if you're traveling for pleasure, you might want to save it for the rest of the year. What to Pack: The warmest gear you have! Bulky sweaters and layers are an absolute must, as are winter accessories like a scarf, hat, and gloves. Spring in Northwest China Spring is undoubtedly a milder time of year but it's still going to feel very chilly until late May. Things in the region green up quite a bit, though, and the tourists are few and far between so spring is an excellent time to travel to Northwest China. What to Pack: While your heaviest coat can take a break, you'll still want some cozy duds for your spring trip. Think long-sleeve layers and long pants for most days. Summer in Northwest China Summer is high season in the regions. It is generally hot and very dry. There is very little rainfall here in summer months, and daytime temperatures can get above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). The nighttime temperatures drop radically with the sunset so evenings can be cooler and very pleasant. Northern Gansu (Silk Road Hexi Corridor and Dunhuang) in August is delightful. What to Pack: Daytime temperatures in northwest China can be brutally hot, but nights can be much cooler. Pack lightweight clothing for the daytime, along with a light jacket or sweatshirt for wearing during the evenings. Fall in Northwest China Fall is also an excellent time to go, although depending on when you travel, you might be getting into the late season (some places close to tourists after the October break). Xinjiang in October is quite lovely: Warm and comfortable during daytime sightseeing, but cooler in the evening. What to Pack: You might need a jacket along the Karakoram Highway where the altitude is high, but in general, days are warm and pleasant for daytime sightseeing. Jeans and T-shirts, with a light sweater for cooler days, are appropriate much of the time. Average Monthly Temperature, Rainfall, and Daylight Hours Month Avg. Temp. Rainfall Daylight Hours January 39 F 0.2 in 10 hours February 46 F 0.5 in 10.5 hours March 56 F 1.1 in 11.5 hours April 67 F 1.8 in 12.5 hours May 74 F 2.5 in 14 hours June 81 F 3 in 14.5 hours July 84 F 4.6 in 14.5 hours August 81 F 4.3 in 14 hours September 72 F 3.7 in 13 hours October 62 F 2.3 in 12 hours November 51 F 0.5 in 10.5 hours December 42 F 0.2 in 10 hours Article Sources TripSavvy uses only high-quality, trusted sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy. Weatherspark.com. "Average Weather in Tianshui, China." December 2020. Weatherspark.com. "Average Weather in Xining, China." December 2020. Weatherspark.com. "Average Weather in Xi'an, China." December 2020. Climatedata.org. "Yinchuan Climate: Average Temperatures." December 2020. ClimateData.org. "Urumqi climate: Average Temperatures." December 2020. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies