China Weather in January and Places to Go

As the coldest month of China, January generally gets an average temperature ranging from -5°C to 5°C, during which the country would experience the driest and bitterest winds. There will be plenty of snowfall in large parts of north China, such as Beijing, Harbin and Xian. The further northward you go, the chill would be more unbearable.

However, January is not always bad. The temperature displays an increasing trend from north to south mainly due to different latitudes. In fact, it is a really nice time to see the southern cities of China like Hong Kong, Macau and Sanya. These places never get really cold in January and even more comfortable than other months. The moderate and warm temperature make them the best winter escapes of China.

North China: Beijing, Tianjin, Harbin, Inner Mongolia…
In northern China, it's normally cold during the day and freezing at nighttime. The higher latitude is, the colder it is. The coldest place may be hit by low temperature of -40°C. For example, Beijing has the average temperature of -9–2°C (16–36°F), while Harbin is much colder, averaging -25 – -13°C (-13–9°F). It will be dry throughout the month, but cities like Beijing, Harbin, Tianjin and Dalian see great chances of snowfalls. The weather in northern areas provides a good climate to enjoy outdoor activities like skating and skiing. Just get yourself bundled up for the cold.
Clothing Guide: thick coat, thermal under layers, sweaters, down jacket, cotton-padded clothes, hat, gloves, earmuff, snow boot and scarf.

Central China: Chengdu, Wuhan, Luoyang, Zhangjiajie, Yangtze River (Chongqing - Yichang)…
The central regions in China are quite cold and bleak in January. Because of the higher humidity level, you may feel even colder than the north parts of the country. Take Chengdu for example, the average temperature varies between 3–10°C (37–50°F), and there are more snow days because of the dampness. Houses in central China are not equipped with heating system like in north China, so you may need to wear layers both indoors and outdoors.
Clothing Guide: heavy overcoat, woolen sweater, thick pants, snow boots, gloves and scarf.

South China: Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin…
Although January is the coldest period in China, it still could be quite comfortable for traveling to southern cities. It is mild and less rainy, with a moderate temperature averaging 10 - 12°C(50 - 53°F). In Sanya, you could definitely enjoy the summer time, and the weather in Hong Kong is also very pleasant for a light wear. The average temperature is 15–18°C (59–64°F). It is much cooler in Guilin due to the humidity, but the temperature is still ideal for sightseeing and cruising as long as you get properly dressed.
Clothing Guide: T-shirt, shorts, dress, long-sleeve shirts, light coat, wind coat, sweater, jacket and base layers.

East China: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Yellow Mountain…
In January, it is generally cold, windy and humid in East China. Cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou are blessed with an average temperature of 7°C, and it seldom drops below freezing in the evening. Besides, you could expect more sunny days as the rainfall decreases a lot in eastern regions.
Clothing Guide: down jacket, padded overcoat, sweaters, thick pants and hiking boots.

West China: Tibet, Yunnan, Qinghai, Silk Road Destinations…
January is a harsh month in West China as it is simply cold, dry and windy. The temperatures below freezing and heavy snows make January unsuitable for traveling in most west cities. However, some parts of Yunnan Province are endowed with pleasant weather, with moderate temperature and plenty of sunshine. Like Kunming and Dali, the temperature in the day time could reach 15°C (59°F), but it may drop to 2°C (36°F) at night. Thus one need to be aware of the cold hours and get fully covered for warmth.
Clothing Guide: padded overcoat, down jacket, woolen sweaters, thick trousers, boots and gloves.

Generally, the weather of January is still agreeable to visit some top China trip destinations, such as Beijing, Xian and Shanghai since the chill will not affect the indoor sightseeing that these cities mostly offer. However, taking advantage of the weather, you could discover more seasonal delights missed out before.

• Harbin: January is arguably the most advisable month for an adventure to the Ice City Harbin, one of the northernmost places in China. There will be a grand Ice and Snow Festival celebrated from January 5th and throughout the month every year, during which you could fully indulge into the world of gorgeous ice and snow sculptures, and participate in a lot of fun activities, such as winter swimming, dog sledding and sculpture-carving. Besides, you can visit one of world’s best ski resorts in Harbin, like Yabuli and Wanlong, or make a side trip to China Snow Town to fully immerse yourselves into the fairytale world of dreamy mushroom houses padded with thick snow.
• Yellow Mountain: The Yellow Mountain is a popular destination all year round, offering breathtaking views varied in seasons. In January, the Yellow Mountain would turn into an incredible fairy tale world, with sliver peaks capped by snows and trees coated with frost rimes. You have big chances to capture the splendid sunrises and sunsets, and the famous scene sea of clouds is also more likely to be seen in January. Moreover, it is a wonderful month to avoid tourist crowds, which would promise you an even better adventure.
• Sanya: Located at the southernmost of Hainan Province, Sanya is crowned as the Oriental Hawaii because of its warm tropical weather and gorgeous seaside scenery. With an average temperature of 21.6°C in January, it is a vacation destination widely chosen by travelers who wish to escape from the winter chill. Endowed with endless sea, picturesque islands and stunning beaches as well as ethnic culture roots, Sanya is a winter resort paradise where you could get total relaxation and enjoy a good time with families.
• Yunnan: Yunnan Province in southwestern China is an ideal place to run away from the freezing winter. Endowed with various landscapes from tropical rain forests to snow-capped peaks, Yunnan offers winter stunners more than you could imagine. The UNESCO-listed Yuanyang Rice Terraces are in its best colors in January when all the fields are irrigated with glittering water and even dotted with red duckweeds. Lijiang and Dali would present you colorful ethnic culture of Bai and Naxi, along with their picturesque old towns and villages as well as fairylike lakes. If you want to go to somewhere warmer, you could also venture into the Xishuangbanna to explore the rainforests and jungle tribes.
• Xiamen: Xiamen is a refreshing and beautiful seaport city in southeast of China, which has pleasant climate all year round. Even in January, the average temperature lingers over 14°C, making Xiamen a rather comfortable place for winter holiday. The city boasts captivating islands, clean streets and pleasant tree-lined beaches, which could be best explored either by an excursion on foot or a delightful biking ride, or a leisurely boat cruise. If you have a couple of extra days, you could plan an in-depth folk culture exploration to the UNESCO-listed Tulou clusters, the most typical and magnificent folk residences of Hakka people.
• Chengdu: A real Chengdu winter package would include two big appeals of the city, the giant pandas and the hotpot. Pandas love to hang out in cool temperature, thus you could see more active pandas in the playground than summer time. And a hotpot meal might be the easiest and quickest way to warm you up after a walk outdoors. For more adventurous experience, you could pay a visit to the Jiuzhaigou when the mountains is fully covered with snow and the pure lakes seem baptized. Or drive about 120 kilometers away from Chengdu to see the Xiling Snow Mountain and launch a thrilling skiing experience there.
• Hong Kong: January is a very popular month to travel to Hong Kong due to its low humidity and warm temperature averaging 17°C, which creates good opportunities to explore the outdoors. Besides, in January there are big celebrations about the New Year and Chinese Spring Festival, during which you might catch massive fireworks display at Victoria Harbor, New Year Parade, buzzing flower markets, and even horse racing. In addition, January is also the best time for a shopping spree as the malls in Hong Kong usually make the biggest sales promotions in late December and early January. Do make yourself a shopping list and get ready to splash a lot in the shopping paradise.

1. In the New Year Day, there might be some firework and light shows in cities like Hong Kong and Shanghai, and the malls will offer generous sales, too.
2. China's biggest Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) sometimes falls in late January, when the whole country would be on the move with tremendous crowds. During the travel rush, the train tickets are hardly accessible, and meanwhile the airfare and hotel rate dramatically rocket up. Thus you should definitely avoid this period. Confirm the time of Spring Festival with your travel consultant since the exact date changes every year.
3. The Ice and Snow Festival is annually observed in Harbin in January, while the hotel price and airfare would rise dramatically, and they are quickly booked out. You'd better turn to a travel agent who can accommodate a smooth festival tour in Harbin.
4. In January, it is generally dry and windy in most parts of China. Therefore, pack your moisturizer and lip balm.