Early winter · Weather & things to do
Beijing in December
Beijing cools off: highs slip to 37°F (3°C), from 50°F in November, with lows of 17°F (-8°C) and less than 0.1 in (3 mm) of rain or snow.
Our comfort score puts it mid-table at 57/100, 9th of 12.
- Avg high
- 37°F (3°C)
- Avg low
- 17°F (-8°C)
- Rain or snow
- less than 0.1 in (3 mm)
- Humidity
- 53%
- Cloud cover
- 40%
- Daylight
- ~9 h 11 min
- Comfort score
- 57/100 · Fair
What December feels like
Highs only reach about 37°F (3°C), so plan short stints outside between indoor stops.
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 17°F (-8°C), so expect frost and ice.
Precipitation is light, less than 0.1 in (3 mm) of rain or snow, and since the average temperature is below freezing, what does fall may well be snow.
Only about 9 h 11 min of daylight means early sunsets.
Plan around December
December sits mid-table; the best months are April and September & October.
- Snow becomes likely from December, so check road and trail conditions.
- Shortest days of the year, about 9 h 11 min of daylight.
- Comfort slips from 72/100 in November to 57/100.
- Our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route recommends Apr – May, Sep – Oct, so December falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for December
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 17°F
- Shoes with gripfrost and ice are possible
- Comfortable walking shoesmost picks involve some walking
What to do in Beijing in December
Cold days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
The Ming and Qing imperial palace, nearly a thousand buildings behind red walls.
Why now An indoor-leaning stop when highs sit around 37°F.
Siji Minfu
Popular Peking duck chain carving crisp duck tableside at fair prices.
Why now A warm sit-down stop when highs sit around 37°F.
798 Art District
Former factory complex filled with galleries, studios and cafes.
Why now A way to spend part of a cold day out of the wind.
Shichahai Hutongs
Old alleyways around Houhai and the Drum and Bell Towers, best by bike or rickshaw.
Guijie (Ghost Street)
Street of restaurants lit by red lanterns, known for spicy crayfish and hot pot late into the night.
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid, temperatures adjusted from the grid cell's ~222 m to Beijing's ~53 m elevation (standard lapse rate). Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Beijing in December: quick answers
Is December a good time to visit Beijing?
It's middling, scoring 57/100. The best months are April and September & October, at up to 95. Expect highs of 37°F (3°C) and less than 0.1 in (3 mm) of rain or snow. Our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route recommends Apr – May, Sep – Oct, so December is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Beijing in December?
Average highs are 37°F (3°C) and average lows 17°F (-8°C), making it the 2nd-coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Beijing in December?
Not much: less than 0.1 in (3 mm) of rain or snow falls across December on average, the driest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 21.0 in (533 mm).
What should I pack for Beijing in December?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 17°F), shoes with grip (frost and ice are possible) and comfortable walking shoes (most picks involve some walking).
More on Beijing
Planning Beijing in December?
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