01Weather
Beijing weather in December
Afternoons in December average 4.9 °C (41 °F) and nights cool to -7.7 °C (18 °F). The month brings about 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain spread over roughly 1 days. Compared with November it is 7.1 °C cooler; January is 1.0 °C cooler again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical December | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 10 °C / 50 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | -1 °C / 30 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | -13 °C / 9 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 0.0 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 30.1 | frost mornings per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 3 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest December day 2016–2025 | 15.0 °C / -21.0 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 December | 07:17 | 16:49 | 9.5 h |
| 15 December | 07:29 | 16:49 | 9.3 h |
| 31 December | 07:36 | 16:58 | 9.4 h |
Daylight shrinks by about 6 minutes over the month. Times are local (Asia/Shanghai).
03Crowds
How busy Beijing is in December
quiet The main sights are quiet in December. What drives it:
- cold, dry winter
- Christmas not a holiday
- ice skating on Houhai
04Public holidays
Public holidays in December 2026
No public holidays in China fall in December, so shops and museums keep normal hours all month.
05Events
What's on in Beijing in December
Every year in December
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ice season at Shichahai and Summer Palace | late December to February | seasonal |
07Packing
What to pack for Beijing in December
- a winter coat, gloves and a hat
- thermal layer for early mornings
- waterproof shoes
- gloves: frost on about 30 mornings
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
December is cold, dry and quiet, with afternoons around 3 °C and nights near minus eight, ice rinks on Houhai and the Summer Palace from late December and the Great Wall nearly empty on weekdays. Christmas is not a holiday, though malls decorate and restaurants offer set menus. It is the cheapest month for hotels and the best for photographers who can handle the cold. Snow falls on a few days.
Air quality is variable in the heating season, with the clearest days after a north wind. The Forbidden City's winter hours close it at half past four. The hot-pot restaurants and the Peking duck houses are the winter circuit. New Year's Day is a one-day holiday. For the coldest month and the Spring Festival preparations, see January.
09Compare
Beijing month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4 °C | -9 °C | 0 | – | quiet | Good |
| February | 7 °C | -6 °C | 3 | – | moderate | Good |
| March | 16 °C | 2 °C | 4 | – | moderate | Good |
| April | 23 °C | 8 °C | 4 | – | busy | Excellent |
| May | 29 °C | 14 °C | 6 | – | very busy | Good |
| June | 33 °C | 20 °C | 9 | – | busy | Mixed |
| July | 33 °C | 23 °C | 12 | – | busy | Mixed |
| August | 32 °C | 22 °C | 10 | – | very busy | Mixed |
| September | 28 °C | 16 °C | 8 | – | busy | Excellent |
| October | 20 °C | 7 °C | 5 | – | very busy | Good |
| November | 12 °C | 0 °C | 2 | – | moderate | Good |
| December | 5 °C | -8 °C | 1 | – | quiet | Good |
Not sure about December? See the best time to visit Beijing.
10Elsewhere
December in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul in December | 4 °C | 11 |
| Shanghai in December | 12 °C | 8 |
| Kyoto in December | 12 °C | 7 |
| Tokyo in December | 12 °C | 6 |
| Bangkok in December | 33 °C | – |
| Singapore in December | 31 °C | 16 |
11FAQ
Beijing in December: your questions
Is December a good time to visit Beijing?
December is a good month to visit Beijing. Daytime highs average 5 °C (41 °F), rain falls on about 1 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are quiet.
What is the weather like in Beijing in December?
Expect cold days around 5 °C (41 °F) and nights near -8 °C (18 °F). One December in ten brings afternoons above 10 °C, and one in ten stays below -1 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Beijing in December?
December brings about 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain over roughly 1 days, which is dry by Beijing standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 3 percent.
What should I wear in Beijing in December?
Pack a winter coat, gloves and a hat, thermal layer for early mornings, waterproof shoes.
Is Beijing crowded in December?
The main sights are quiet in December. Main drivers: cold, dry winter; Christmas not a holiday; ice skating on Houhai.
What time does it get dark in Beijing in December?
Around the middle of December the sun sets at about 16:49 and rises at 07:29, giving 9.3 hours of daylight.