Weather in China in December – is it worth traveling to?
Is the weather good in China in December 2026?
For the past few decades, the average daily temperatures in China during December have been around +11°C.
The weather differs across the China in December. You may encounter maximum temperatures of +11°C at noon in Shanghai and +3°C in Beijing. So plan your activities, and packing, based on the individual locations rather than the country as a whole.
Temperature, wind and humidity in December
- rainiest? Shanghai, with an average of 1 mm of rain and humidity of 70%;
- warmest? Shanghai, with daytime temperatures averaging +11°C;
- windiest? Shanghai, with an average of 2 m/s;
- coolest? Beijing, with daytime temperatures averaging +3°C;
How good is the weather in China in December?
How warm is it in China during December?
This is how hot it usually is in December
- Average maximum temperature for the month: +11°C;
- Average minimum temperature for the month: +4°C;
- Highest monthly temperature: +13°C;
- Lowest monthly temperature: +2°C;
Monthly temperatures:
- Warmest: July with an average +31°C during the day;
- Coldest: January with an average +9°C of the day;
- Hottest month in hottest city: July in Shanghai;
- Coldest month in coolest city: January in Beijing;
Winds in China during December
December tends to offer light winds averaging 2 m/s. However, coastal cities may experience breezes during the mornings and afternoons.
Comparison between cities in December:
- Highest average wind speed: Shanghai with 3 m/s;
- Lowest average wind speed: Beijing with 1 m/s;
- Windiest day of the month: Shanghai with 3 m/s;
- The least windy day of the month: Beijing with 1 m/s;
Humidity and precipitation in China in December
Comparison between cities in December:
- Highest average rainfall: Shanghai with 37 mm;
- Lowest average rainfall: Beijing with 0 mm;
- Most number of rainy days: Shanghai with 7 rainy days;
- Least number of rainy days: Beijing with 0 rainy days;
- Highest risk of rain during the day: Shanghai with 23%;
- Least risk of rain during the day: Beijing with 0%;
- Highest average humidity: Shanghai with 70%;
- Lowest average humidity: Beijing with 53%;
Tips for traveling to China in December
Looking for some tips for traveling to the sun, snow, or whatever you're aiming for China? Activities, weather, and clothing are closely linked. In addition, it's important to pack only what you really need so you don't have to worry about heavy packing or paying extra baggage fees.
Here is some advice on what to pack and what kind of activities you can do in the China based on the weather that December is expected to bring. The advice applies to the country as a whole – local weather and possible activities may differ somewhat.
Pack right for December
- For light showers, an umbrella or a thin and light rain cape is usually sufficient, while more rain may require rainwear and rain boots.
- Cool weather is between warm and cold. This means you can bring long pants and/or a longer skirt and an extra sweater. Be aware that cool days can alternate with cold nights - it may be wise to also pack a hat, gloves and a scarf.
- Light winds are probably most comfortable in hot weather but is cooling in cool and cold weather. If it is hot (when the air temperature is about 30 degrees), the wind can have a warming effect. A thin, windproof jacket and long trousers help to counteract these effects.
- High humidity means that the air conducts heat to and from the skin more easily. For example, if the air is hot (above skin temperature), it will be harder to stay cool. On the other hand, if the air is cool or cold, it is more difficult to stay warm. In high humidity, the choice of clothing makes less of a difference. However, your physical activity plays a bigger role.
FAQ
What can you do outside when it's warm in China?
Is December a good time to visit China?
Monthly weather in China
Source of the data
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in China, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
