Month guide · Beijing · China
Beijing in December
What December is really like in Beijing: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -6°C (21°F), about 2 rainy days and roughly 9.4 hours of daylight. Cold and dry with low prices; the Great Wall is quiet and occasionally dusted with snow.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 3°C (37°F) / -6°C (21°F)
- Rainy days
- About 2
- Daylight
- About 9.4 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Beijing: days average 3°C (37°F) against a yearly average high of 18°C (64°F), and nights fall to about -6°C (21°F). Rain falls on roughly 2 of its 31 days. Compared with November (10°C (50°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 2°C (36°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:29
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:51
- Daylight
- About 9.4 hours
Winter (December–February). Freezing but sunny and dry, with frozen lakes for skating, quiet palaces and Lunar New Year temple fairs.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- Ice and snow activities begin in parks and on lakes (usually late December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Gallery · Chaoyang
798 Art Zone
A complex of 1950s factories built with East German help, with saw-tooth roofs, now converted into galleries, studios, design shops and cafés.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Historic site · Haidian
Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)
Visit in July when the lotus ponds bloom, and combine it with the Summer Palace about 3 km away.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Architecture · Chaoyang
Olympic Green
The 2008 Olympic park holds the steel lattice of the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, and the bubble-clad National Aquatics Center, the Water Cube.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Free
- Kids
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Zoo · Xicheng
Beijing Zoo
See the pandas in the morning when they are most active, before midday heat or crowds.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 3°C, lows near -6°C and 2 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Beijing?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Beijing in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Beijing?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and dry with low prices; the Great Wall is quiet and occasionally dusted with snow.
+How warm is Beijing in December?
Average highs are around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Beijing in December?
Expect rain on about 2 days of the month, so it is usually dry.