Climate Insights for Xining

The climate in Xining is cool. The average annual temperature is 5°C and approximately 505mm of precipitation falls per year. September is the wettest month, receiving around 99mm of rainfall. Xining is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are January, December, February, when temperatures can drop to -16°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Xining has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 39°C from the coldest to warmest months. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 23°C with a mean of 17°C. January brings the harshest conditions, with lows dropping to -16°C and an average temperature of -8°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 13°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 7°C shift in average temperatures.

Xining is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 505mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 42mm per month. The wettest month is September, averaging 99mm of rainfall. August and July also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is December, with just 2mm. That's 97mm less than September, 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 January and December, totalling around 48cm annually. April is the snowiest month with approximately 11cm.

Xining is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 10km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is April, averaging 12km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in September, with average winds dropping to 9km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 3km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently spring in Xining, which began on March 20, 2026. Xining 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 July at around 23°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -16°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The best time to visit Xining is during July and August, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 82mm per month. By contrast, January can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to -16°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Xining 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.