Beijing weather in January

January is not a particularly good time to visit Beijing, unless you enjoy freezing cold weather. January is the coldest month of the year with the occasional snowfall.

You can expect cold, dry weather and clear blue skies with around six hours of sunshine daily and little to no rain.

Daytime temperatures climb to an average high of 2°C (35°F), with a low of -8°C (17°F) at night.

How hot is it in Beijing in January?
January is usually a very cold month. The average temperature is -3.3°C (26°F), with a high of 2°C (35°F) and a low of -8°C (17°F).

On the warmest days of the month, the temperature can reach 9°C (48°F).

How sunny is it in Beijing in January?
There are normally six hours of bright sunshine each day in Beijing in January – that's around 62% of daylight hours.

Sunrise & sunset in January?
Sunrise is around 7:34am with sunset around 5:15pm.

Does it rain in Beijing in January?
There are usually two days with some rain in Beijing in January, and the average monthly rainfall is 3mm (≤1in).

How windy is it in Beijing in January?
January sees an average hourly wind speed of 11 kilometres per hour (7 mph; 6 knots).

What to do in Beijing in January?
Weather conditions in January are ideal for outdoor ice-skating (at Bei Hai Gongyuan, Qian Hai and the Summer Palace) as well as indoor ice-skating (at Le Cool, Guomao Liubing Chang).

Despite the cold, conditions in January are good to explore Beijing’s amazing treasure trove of stunning monuments, including the magnificent Summer Palace, the exquisite Temple of Heaven and the splendours of the Forbidden City.

January is considered low season in Beijing, with lower hotel rates and fewer visitors except for the New Year holidays.


Beijing weather in January

Temperature icon High Temp: 2°C (35°F)
temperature icon Low Temp: -8°C (17°F)
sun icon Sunshine: 6 hours per day
10
Moderately hot icon
Daylight: 10 hours per day
wind icon Wind speed: 11 km/h (7 mph; 6 knots)
umbrella icon Wet Days: 2 days with some rain
rain cloud Rainfall: 3 mm (≤1 in) per month
Cold icon Comfort Level: Cold; 43% humidity
2
Moderately hot icon
UV Index: Low
Beijing, China

Best time to visit the Beijing

The best time to visit Beijing is during spring and autumn: April and May, and September to early November – so avoiding the heat and rains of summer, as well as the cold of winter.

At these times the many tourist attractions are less crowded while it’s warm and dry, with an average temperature of 23°C (73°F). Early summer is also a good time to visit Beijing.

 › Beijing weather overview


Beijing weather by month


Source: Meteorological data for Beijing is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1992 to 2021 by the China Meteorological Administration at the closest weather station: Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA), also called Capital Airport or Beijing Airport, located 32km (20mi) northeast of Beijing.

Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.


More about Beijing…


Latest update: Beijing weather: 12 June, 2024



Advertising