Climate Insights for Beijing

The climate in Beijing is temperate. The average annual temperature is 13°C and approximately 554mm of precipitation falls per year. July is the wettest month, receiving around 213mm of rainfall. Beijing is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: June, July, August. The coldest months are January, December, February, when temperatures can drop to -9°C. Light snow can occur between February and December.

Beijing has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 42°C from the coldest to warmest months. The warmest month is June, when average highs reach 33°C and the mean temperature sits around 27°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -9°C and the daily average is -3°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 11°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 9°C shift in average temperatures.

Beijing is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 554mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 46mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 213mm of rainfall. August and September also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is January, with just 1mm. That's 212mm less than July, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic. Light snowfall can occur between February and December, totalling around 11cm annually. November is the snowiest month with approximately 4cm.

Beijing is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 13km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is May, averaging 18km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 11km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 7km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently spring in Beijing, which began on March 20, 2026. Beijing is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in June at around 33°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -9°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 90 days from now.

The best time to visit Beijing is during April, May and September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 20°C with modest rainfall averaging 34mm per month. By contrast, June can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 33°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to -9°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Beijing based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.