When to go · Beijing
Beijing in January
Mixed month. Very cold and dry; Spring Festival some years.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Temperature
- 2° / -9°
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 3
- Crowds
- Medium
- China overall
- Prices
- Medium
- China overall
Verdict
Very cold and dry; Spring Festival some years.
Weather in January
- BeijingHighs around 2 °C, lows around -9 °C, rain on about 3 days
- North China, China · Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an, Datong, Pingyaocool
Continental: dry winters down to −10 °C, hot humid summers with thunderstorms. Dust and smog peak in late winter and spring; September–October is the clear season.
Dec–Feb season
Very cold and dry; clearer air on good days, but heating-season pollution on bad ones; Spring Festival brings closures.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) check
Date moves yearly; check this year's date · Whole city
Many shops and restaurants close for several days; transport is packed for weeks around it; some fireworks restrictions apply in the centre.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · China overall
- Medium
- Prices · China overall
- Medium
China overall: Cold and smoggy in the north, ice festival in Harbin; Spring Festival travel rush can start mid-month.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket