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Beijing in September
Photo: Ziegler

Beijing · Best time to visit · September

Beijing in September

Warm and fairly dry, busy at the main sights, about 12 hours of daylight. Weather, crowds and what to expect · updated 2026-11-01

Excellent time to visit
28°C / 83 °F
Average high
16°C / 61 °F
Average low
8days
Rain ≥ 1 mm
12.5h
Daylight · sunset 18:23
Excellent. September is the beginning of Beijing's famous autumn, with falling humidity, clear blue skies and warm days around 26 °C, and the Mid-Autumn Festival bringing mooncakes and a short holiday in September or early October.

01Weather

Beijing weather in September

Afternoons in September average 28.2 °C (83 °F) and nights cool to 16.3 °C (61 °F). The month brings about 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain spread over roughly 8 days. Compared with August it is 3.7 °C cooler; October is 8.5 °C cooler again.

8°13°18°23°28°33°30°19°28°17°26°14°1102030
Average high and low in early, mid and late September (ERA5 daily data)

What the averages hide

In a typical SeptemberValueWhat it means
Warm afternoons (90th percentile)32 °C / 90 °Fone day in ten is at least this warm
Cool afternoons (10th percentile)24 °C / 75 °Fone day in ten stays below this
Cold nights (10th percentile)12 °C / 54 °Fone night in ten is colder than this
Days above 30 °C (86 °F)10.4per month, average 2016–2025
Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F)0.0frost mornings per month
Chance of rain on any given day27 %at least 1 mm
Hottest / coldest September day 2016–202537.0 °C / 7.0 °Cextremes in the ten-year record
-15°-10°-5°0°5°10°15°20°25°30°35°40°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average daily high and low by month (°C)

02Daylight

Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day

DateSunriseSunsetDaylight
1 September05:4218:4613.1 h
15 September05:5518:2312.5 h
30 September06:0917:5811.8 h

Daylight shrinks by about 78 minutes over the month. Times are local (Asia/Shanghai).

03Crowds

How busy Beijing is in September

busy  The main sights are busy in September. What drives it:

  • best autumn weather
  • Mid-Autumn Festival
  • schools back

04Public holidays

Public holidays in September 2027

DateHoliday
15 Sep 2027Mid-Autumn Festival

On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.

05Events

What's on in Beijing in September

Every year in September

EventWhenType
Mid-Autumn FestivalSeptember or early Octoberholiday

07Packing

What to pack for Beijing in September

  • light, breathable clothing
  • sun hat and sunscreen
  • refillable water bottle
  • a compact umbrella for occasional showers
  • something for heat: 10 days a month pass 30 °C on average

08Editor's notes

What the numbers don't tell you

September is the beginning of Beijing's famous autumn, with falling humidity, clear blue skies and warm days around 26 °C, and the Mid-Autumn Festival bringing mooncakes and a short holiday in September or early October. Schools return. It is one of the two best months, and prices reflect it. Rain falls on about six days, mostly in the first half.

The Great Wall hikes are at their best, and the Summer Palace's Kunming Lake is busy with boats. The Beijing Design Week and the China Open tennis fill the second half. The Forbidden City needs a week's notice. Hotel rates rise toward Golden Week. For the finest weather of the year outside the holiday, see October; book around the first week.

09Compare

Beijing month by month

MonthHighLowRain daysSun hCrowdsVerdict
January4 °C-9 °C0–quietGood
February7 °C-6 °C3–moderateGood
March16 °C2 °C4–moderateGood
April23 °C8 °C4–busyExcellent
May29 °C14 °C6–very busyGood
June33 °C20 °C9–busyMixed
July33 °C23 °C12–busyMixed
August32 °C22 °C10–very busyMixed
September28 °C16 °C8–busyExcellent
October20 °C7 °C5–very busyGood
November12 °C0 °C2–moderateGood
December5 °C-8 °C1–quietGood

Not sure about September? See the best time to visit Beijing.

10Elsewhere

September in nearby cities

11FAQ

Beijing in September: your questions

Is September a good time to visit Beijing?

September is one of the best months to visit Beijing. Daytime highs average 28 °C (83 °F), rain falls on about 8 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are busy.

What is the weather like in Beijing in September?

Expect warm days around 28 °C (83 °F) and nights near 16 °C (61 °F). One September in ten brings afternoons above 32 °C, and one in ten stays below 24 °C.

Does it rain a lot in Beijing in September?

September brings about 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain over roughly 8 days, which is fairly dry by Beijing standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 27 percent.

What should I wear in Beijing in September?

Pack light, breathable clothing, sun hat and sunscreen, refillable water bottle.

Is Beijing crowded in September?

The main sights are busy in September. Main drivers: best autumn weather; Mid-Autumn Festival; schools back.

What time does it get dark in Beijing in September?

Around the middle of September the sun sets at about 18:23 and rises at 05:55, giving 12.5 hours of daylight.