China Weather in December and Places to Go

In December, most places in China have walked into the cold winter except some southern cities. The North China begins to meet chilly wind and temperature below freezing, whereas it's cold and damp across the central part of the country. Besides, the low temperature brings some extraordinary winter wonders, such as the dreamy ice and snow scenes, rimes on the trees and awesome natural skiing resorts. Moreover, December is China's off-peak travel time when you might not encounter enormous crowds but enjoy a cost-efficient tour with the less-expansive hotel rates and airfare.

North China: Beijing, Tianjin, Harbin, Inner Mongolia…
It will be quite cold and dry if you visit some northern parts of China. Northeast cities like Harbin and Shenyang might be covered with thick snow and ice. In Beijing, the average temperature usually ranges from -7°C to 3°C (19–37°F), but there is few days of snowfall. It's raining really exceptionally in December, too, so you probably could expect a clear day for a hiking trip on the Great Wall of Beijing.
Clothing Guide: thermal shirt, down jacket, padded overcoat, winter pants, padded trousers, snow boots, hat, scarf, gloves…

Central China: Chengdu, Wuhan, Luoyang, Zhangjiajie, Yangtze River (Chongqing - Yichang)…
In central China, it will be quite brisk and even colder at night, but the temperature rarely drops below freezing. It might snow a couple of times in this month because the lingering dampness creates good snowing chances. Buildings are not equipped with indoor heating system in most central cities, but there will be air-conditioners in service. Take Zhangjiajie as an example, the average temperature climbs from 4°C (39°F) at night to 12°C (54°F) in daytime, and the rainfall decreases a lot.
Clothing Guide: thick overcoat, sweater, padded jacket, fleece coat, thick pants and water-resistant shoes…

South China: Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin…
The southern parts of China are mostly blessed with favorable weather. The temperature is much warmer than North China, and there is clear sky and plentiful sunshine for travelers to run away from the frosty winter. For travelers on winter vacations, Hong Kong, Sanya and Guilin are all fantastic places where you can indulge in the outdoor delights, such as beaches, open-air markets and river cruises.
Clothing Guide: long-sleeve T-shirt, overcoat, sweater, jeans, light trousers, sweat pants, sneakers…

East China: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Yellow Mountain…
East China, including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou and much of the Yellow Mountains, usually stay above freezing but could still be windy and damp in December. The average temperature of Shanghai is 2–11°C (36–52°F), which is definitely bearable if you are dressed cozy. In the Yellow Mountain, you have bigger opportunities to see the sea of clouds and the rimes on the pines.
Clothing Guide: winter jacket, padded overcoat, sweater, long boots, thick pants, hat, scarf, gloves…

West China: Tibet, Yunnan, Qinghai, Silk Road Destinations…
The West China enjoys diverse weather condition in December. Areas of high altitude like Lhasa are quite cool in the day but frigid at night with big temperature differences, whereas it is simply dry and chilly in the destinations along the Silk Road. However, in Yunnan Province, December is still a comfortable and cool month for traveling, with an average temperature of 3–15°C (37–59°F). Especially the tropical Xishuangbanba enjoys warm temperature but less rainfall, which is worth an adventure into to the rainforest.
Clothing Guide: winter coat, woolen sweater, wind-proof-jackets, down jacket, gloves, sunglasses…

Cold winter cannot stop you from travelling in China. In December, there are a plethora of attractions and activities at their best for visitors to enjoy a wonderful winter vacation. Apart from some of the country’s most visited places like Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, we recommend some most ideal places to go in December with their special offers.

• Tibet: Some may suggest August and September for a trip to Tibet, while December is not inferior to them in terms of scenery. It is a perfect time to capture the magnificent snowcapped peaks and sapphire holy lakes. December is also a busy season for pilgrimages when you could encounter flows of Tibetan Buddhism followers prostrating around the holy mountains or lakes. Often viewed as a slow season, December sees less tourist crowds at its main draws such as the Potala Palace, Norbulinka, Jokhang Temple and Sera Temple, so you could enjoy a much quieter sightseeing.
• Yunnan: Yunnan boasts spring-like climate all year round, and December has an extra bonus, the fewer tourist throngs. The enjoyable weather makes good chances to see the essence of most travel places in Yunnan, such as the otherworldly Stone Forest in Kunming, laid-back old towns and villages in Lijiang and Dali as well as gem-like lakes and snow mountains. More importantly, you could seize the time to peek at Chinese lesser-known minorities of Naxi, Bai and Zhuang. Alternatively, escape to a far warmer place like Xishuangbanna to get close to the wildlife in rainforest and the Dai people with their unique ethnic customs.
• Chengdu: There is no better place in the whole world to see giant pandas up close than at the panda breeding base in Chengdu. December is an amazing time to meet pandas outdoors since they are fond of cool temperature. However, Chengdu has more to offer than just pandas. The buzzing Jinli Old Street, leafy bamboo parks and traditional teahouses are well worth exploring in their own right. Chengdu food is some of the best in China. Especially the spicy Sichuan hotpot is almost an adventure of your tongue.
• Xiamen: As historic port city on China's southeast coast, Xianmen is perfect for a trip in four seasons, while the mild weather makes it really stand out in winter destinations. It largely caters to the leisure traveler's desire for laid-back town atmosphere, clean streets and long stretches of sandy beach. The lovely Gulangyu Island is Xiamen's best stunner, fully displaying charms of Victorian-era buildings and pedestrian-only paths. Moreover, a two-hour drive west of Xiamen, you can visit the tulou clusters, a peculiar ring-shaped folk residence built out of compressed earth and bamboo strips, where you could learn about the old Hakka culture and its people's communal way of life.
• Harbin: Though the fabulous Ice and Snow Festival officially starts from January 5th of every year, you could still see many ice carvings and snow sculptures in the streets, main venues and parks in late December. Meanwhile, Harbin boasts some of China's top skiing resorts, where you could revel in various snow activities like snowboarding, snow tubing and sleigh rides. Besides, the Russian-style architectures and the Serbian Tigers Park are also big winter pleasures where you are able to see Harbin as the real Oriental Paris.
• Yellow Mountains: Yellow Mountains show off its endless charms throughout the changes of the seasons, while December adds an unparalleled beauty, the rimes, to the mountain via the cold air and the dampness. You could take the cable car up through ethereal peaks coated with white frost beneath your feet, or stay overnight in the summit to witness the glorious sunrise and the jagged peaks bathed in the furls of the mists. Additionally, delve into the peaceful traditional villages like Hongcun and Chengkan drowned in the bleak winter hues.
• Zhangjiajie: According to the historical weather records, Zhangjiajie has snows every year in December. The nature park would be transformed into a real silver fairyland on the globe when all the ravines, evergreen peaks and sandstone pillars are covered with ice or snow. In December, it is no longer crowded as before, so you can have all incredible experiences all to yourself. You do not have to wait in queues for the cable car and Bailong Elevator as well as the narrow skywalk.

1. Christmas may not be a widely celebrated festival in mainland China, but it is big in Hong Kong. During the festival, you can not only see massive festival decorations, but also enjoy big sales of shopping malls.
2. On the New Year's Eve, there will be a huge countdown and fireworks display on Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, while people in other parts of China may get one day off.
3. Winter Solstice usually falls on December 21, 22, or 23, which is a solar term widely observed in northern cities of China like Beijing and Xian. In this day, people would get together to enjoy dumplings or glutinous rice balls.
4. Harbin Ice & Snow Festival: Though the event mostly takes place in January, you could see a lot of ice carvings and sculptures in the streets and parks at the end of December.

1. Despite which area of China you are visiting, it is always wise to prepare wind-proof outwear and layers of underwear so that you could put on or take off them depending on the change of temperature.
2. December is a low month for traveling among domestic tourists, so you have little chance to meet crazy crowds or high-priced hotels and air tickets in most parts of China except Harbin.
3. Many northern places like Beijing, Harbin, Xian and Xinjiang are endowed with world-class skiing resorts. If you have special interests in snow sports, you can ask for a customized tour including a skiing experience.