Late spring · Weather & things to do
Xi'an in May
Xi'an warms up: highs climb to 85°F (30°C), from 77°F in April, with lows of 60°F (16°C) and about 2.7 in (69 mm) of rain.
It scores 72/100 for comfort, 6th of 12, which makes it a solid shoulder-season month.
- Avg high
- 85°F (30°C)
- Avg low
- 60°F (16°C)
- Rain
- 2.7 in (69 mm)
- Humidity
- 51%
- Cloud cover
- 73%
- Daylight
- ~13 h 47 min
- Comfort score
- 72/100 · Good
What May feels like
Days are warm, averaging 85°F (30°C), easy weather for being outside from morning to evening.
Mornings start much cooler: lows average 60°F (16°C), about 14°C (25°F) below the afternoon high.
Showers are part of the month, adding up to about 2.7 in (69 mm).
Plan around May
May is shoulder season: good weather, a step below the best months (March & April and October).
- Comfort slips from 87/100 in April to 72/100.
- May sits inside the Apr – May, Sep – Oct window our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route recommends.
What to pack for May
- Light, breathable clotheshighs average 85°F
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hatstrong sun this month
- A warm layer for eveningslows near 60°F
- Packable rain jacket or umbrellaabout 2.7 in of rain
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Xi'an in May
May is good outdoor weather here, so these picks lean toward the open air.
Xi'an City Wall
Fully intact Ming wall, 14 km around, best ridden by rented bike.
Why now May scores 72/100 for comfort, good conditions for being outside.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Tang dynasty pagoda built to hold scriptures brought back from India.
Bell Tower and Drum Tower
Two Ming towers at the heart of the walled city, lit at night.
Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie)
Hui food streets with lamb skewers, roujiamo and persimmon cakes.
Defuxiang Bar Street
Short lane of bars and live music spots inside the city wall.
Why now Highs near 85°F and 2.7 in of monthly rain make this an easy outdoor pick.
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid, temperatures adjusted from the grid cell's ~593 m to Xi'an's ~385 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.
Xi'an in May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Xi'an?
It's a good shoulder-season choice, scoring 72/100 against a best of 88 in March & April and October. Expect highs of 85°F (30°C) and 2.7 in (69 mm) of rain. May is inside the Apr – May, Sep – Oct window our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai route recommends.
How hot is Xi'an in May?
Average highs are 85°F (30°C) and average lows 60°F (16°C), making it the 4th-warmest month by daytime highs.
Does it rain a lot in Xi'an in May?
Some: about 2.7 in (69 mm) of rain falls across May on average, the 5th-wettest month of the year. The annual total is about 27.3 in (694 mm).
What should I pack for Xi'an in May?
Bring light, breathable clothes (highs average 85°F), sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat (strong sun this month), a warm layer for evenings (lows near 60°F), packable rain jacket or umbrella (about 2.7 in of rain) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
Routes in season in May
- Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai Apr – May, Sep – Oct
Planning Xi'an in May?
Share this May plan with your group, poll everyone on dates and keep the packing list in one place.