Best time to visit Western China (Tibet, Xinjiang)

Western China (Tibet, Xinjiang) has two good windows: May and September. They sit either side of the season the climate record rules out, which is why the shoulder months matter here. The recommended window is Apr–May, Oct.

Arid high plateau & desert

Best window
Apr–May, Oct
Driest month
December · 0% rainy days
Warmest month
June · 20.4°C / 69°F
Coolest month
January · 1.8°C / 35°F
Months rated go
2 of 12

Month by month

Monthly climate normals for Western China (Tibet, Xinjiang), 1991–2020
MonthHigh °CHigh °FRainy daysVerdict
January1.8351%Too cold
February3.8391%Too cold
March7.8463%Fair
April12.3547%Fair
May16.86221%Go
June20.46946%Fair
July19.76765%Too wet
August18.36562%Too wet
September16.56241%Go
October12.7556%Fair
November7.2451%Fair
December3.5380%Too cold

Verdict combines mean daytime high with rainy-day frequency. “Rainy days” is the share of days in the month with at least 1 mm of rain.

What the numbers say

December is the driest month, with rain on 0% of days and daytime highs near 3.5°C (38°F). July is the wettest, at 65%. The warmest month is June at 20.4°C (69°F); the coolest is January at 1.8°C (35°F). The record rules out too cold in Dec–Feb; too wet in Jul–Aug.

Where else to go