Gansu Climate & Weather

Briefing

Most areas in Gansu Province has dry climate and continental strong temperate monsoon climate. Winter is cold and long; the boundary line of spring and summer is not clear; summer is short with high temperature; temperature in autumn decreases fast. The annual average temperature of the whole province is about 0℃~16℃. Each area in Gansu has different altitude and temperature. Gansu has plenty of sunshine and large daily range of temperature. The annual precipitation across the whole province is about 36.6 ~ 734.9 mm. Due to the season winds, rainfalls are concentrated in June to August.

Tips for Gansu Weather

•Best season to visit Gansu:
The best time to travel in Gansu is in spring and autumn, especially August, September and October. The temperature of spring in Gansu increases fast and changes fast. A lot of sand storms appear in this season. The average temperature is about 8℃. Summer in Gansu is hot and has lots of precipitation. The average temperature of summer is about 19.9℃. The temperature in Gansu's autumn decreases fast. The average temperature in this season is about 10℃. Winter is so cold in Gansu. The temperature changes a lot during the daytime and night. It's dry with little rain in this season. The average temperature of the whole province is about -5.0℃.
 

Early September marks the beginning of autumn in Gansu Province. The key weather features are extremely large temperature differences between day and night and a dry climate.

• Temperature range: The sunshine is strong during the day, and it may feel warm, with temperatures reaching around 25°C-28°C. At night, temperatures can drop sharply to around 7°C-10°C. If it rains, the temperature may fall below 15°C.
• Desert areas (Badain Jaran Desert): Daytime temperatures are around 16°C-25°C, while nighttime temperatures are around 8°C-12°C.

•Clothes for travelling:
The temperature of spring in Gansu increases fast, you can put on your thin sweater or coat. Summer is hot in Gansu, just take your T-shirt with you; but please bring some long sleeve to avoid of the changeable weather in the morning and night. The temperature of autumn in Gansu decreases fast, you'd better prepare your thick coat in advance. Gansu is too cold in winter, so tourists need to wear sweatet or thick coat.  Guests are strongly recommended to use the “onion-style layering method”, which makes it easy to add or remove clothes according to changing temperatures and personal comfort.
 

• Inner layer (for daytime and photos): Short-sleeve T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, thin long dresses, etc. Breathable fabrics such as cotton and linen are recommended.
• Middle layer (for mornings, evenings, and wind protection): Hoodies, lightweight sweaters, fleece jackets, etc.
• Outer layer (for warmth): A windproof jacket (preferably with a removable inner lining), lightweight padded jacket, or trench coat is essential.
• Bottoms: Long pants such as casual trousers or jeans are recommended. Female travelers may bring a long skirt for taking photos.
• Shoes: Comfortable sneakers or Martin boots are recommended. For desert areas, it is advisable to bring shoe covers to prevent sand from entering.
   

Other Essential Items

• Sun protection: High SPF50+ sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hats, and a magic scarf/face covering (for both sand and sun protection).
• Hydration and moisturizing: Lip balm, high-moisture skincare products, and a large-capacity water bottle (make sure to drink enough water).
• Electronic devices: Power bank rental services are not convenient in desert areas, so it is recommended to bring your own power bank and keep your phone fully charged.
• Others: You may prepare some common medicines, such as cold medicine and stomach medicine, in case of discomfort caused by temperature changes or unfamiliar food.

•Avoid Peak Holidays:
It is not a good idea to travel in China during Chinese holidays when huge numbers of Chinese people are travelling around. The busiest three national holidays in China are Chinese Spring Festival (usually in late Jan or early Feb.), International Labor Day (May 01 to 03) and National Day (Oct 01-07).. Spring Festival is an especially crowded time to travel. The advantage of being in China at this time is that you will get the opportunity to experience "first hand" the significance of these celebrations in Chinese culture. 

•Other Tips: 
1. Gansu is dry and in high altitude; and its ultraviolet rays are strong, tourists need to drink more water.
2. The temperature changes a lot in the daytime and night, tourists should pay attention to add or reduce clothes, in order to avoid catching cold.
3. The Silk Road Tours are long with distributed scenic spots, hence, the riding time is a little long; you'd better take your Motion Sickness Drugs.
4. The temperature in the south of Gansu changes a lot, and wind and rain often appears; apart from taking your sun care products like sun glasses and hat, you'd better take your thick coat to avoid the cold air in the morning and night.