China weather in January
China in January averages -6°C (21°F), 3 mm of rain and 5.8 hours of sun a day. It is one of the driest months of the year here.
Of the twelve months in China, January is the coldest, the second driest and the second dullest.
- Average temp
- -6°C (21°F)
-13–0°C · 9–32°F
- Rainfall
- 3 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 5.8 h
hours per day
What is China like in January?
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 January?
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around -13°C (9°F).
January compared with December and February
January in China is 1.6°C cooler than December and about as wet as it, which averages -5°C (24°F).
January in China is 4.5°C cooler than February and about as wet as it, which averages -2°C (29°F).
Daylight in China in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 9 hours 59 minutes in China, rising about 08:12 and setting about 18:11 local time.
January ends 37 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 4 hours 36 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Travel guides for China
What to read before you book.
China weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January 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 January
January climate averages for China, 1991–2020.
China averages -6°C (21°F) in January, ranging from about -13°C (9°F) at night to 0°C (32°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. January sees only about 3 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
No. January averages -6°C (21°F) against -2°C (29°F) in February — 4.5°C cooler.
January is 1.6°C cooler than December, and about as wet.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is April to September; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 5.8 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 January 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 59 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 14 hours 35 minutes in June and 9 hours 45 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 08:12 and sunset about 18:11 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 37 minutes longer than it starts.
