China weather in December
China in December averages -5°C (24°F), 1 mm of rain and 6.4 hours of sun a day. It is one of the driest months of the year here.
Of the twelve months in China, December is the second coldest, the driest and the fifth dullest.
- Average temp
- -5°C (24°F)
-11–2°C · 12–35°F
- Rainfall
- 1 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 6.4 h
hours per day
What is China like in December?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Rain is usually light.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for China in December?
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around -11°C (12°F).
December compared with November and January
December in China is 6.3°C cooler than November and about as wet as it, which averages 2°C (35°F).
December in China is 1.6°C warmer than January and about as wet as it, which averages -6°C (21°F).
Daylight in China in December
On 15 December the sun is up for 9 hours 45 minutes in China, rising about 08:06 and setting about 17:50 local time.
No month in China has less daylight than December.
Travel guides for China
What to read before you book.
China weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How December compares with the rest of the year
December is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | -6°C / 21°F | 3 mm |
| February | -2°C / 29°F | 6 mm |
| March | 4°C / 40°F | 10 mm |
| April | 10°C / 51°F | 22 mm |
| May | 14°C / 58°F | 52 mm |
| June | 18°C / 64°F | 54 mm |
| July | 20°C / 68°F | 70 mm |
| August | 19°C / 66°F | 71 mm |
| September | 14°C / 58°F | 60 mm |
| October | 9°C / 48°F | 27 mm |
| November | 2°C / 35°F | 5 mm |
| December | -5°C / 24°F | 1 mm |
Check another month
This is the month you are reading. Change either side to look at another.
FAQs about China in December
December climate averages for China, 1991–2020.
China averages -5°C (24°F) in December, ranging from about -11°C (12°F) at night to 2°C (35°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. December sees only about 1 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
Yes. December averages -5°C (24°F) against -6°C (21°F) in January — 1.6°C warmer.
December is 6.3°C cooler than November, and about as wet.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is April to September; December sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 6.4 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what December is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 9 hours 45 minutes of daylight in mid-December, the least of any month in China.
On 15 December, sunrise is about 08:06 and sunset about 17:50 local time. Both shift across the month.
