When to go · Dunhuang
Dunhuang in December
Good month. Outside the best window (May–Jun, Sep–Oct). Across China: Cold north, pleasant south and Yunnan; Harbin ice season opens late in the month.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Temperature
- 1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) / −11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 1
- Crowds
- Low
- China overall
- Prices
- Low
- China overall
Verdict
Outside the best window (May–Jun, Sep–Oct). Across China: Cold north, pleasant south and Yunnan; Harbin ice season opens late in the month.
Is another month better than December?
December is rated good. These months rate higher:
Weather in December
- DunhuangHighs around 1 °C (34 °F), lows around -11 °C (12 °F), rain on about 1 dayHighs around 34 °F (1 °C), lows around 12 °F (-11 °C), rain on about 1 day
- Northwest and Silk Road, China · Xinjiang, Gansu (Dunhuang, Zhangye), Inner Mongoliacool
Desert and steppe: very hot summer days in Turpan, bitter winters; May–June and September–October work best.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · China overall
- Low
- Prices · China overall
- Low
China overall: Cold north, pleasant south and Yunnan; Harbin ice season opens late in the month.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Dunhuang, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Good
May: Great (better)
Daytime high
Dec: 1 °C (34 °F)34 °F (1 °C)
May: 26 °C (79 °F)79 °F (26 °C)
Night low
Dec: -11 °C (12 °F)12 °F (-11 °C)
May: 10 °C (50 °F)50 °F (10 °C)
Rain days
Dec: 1 (better)
May: 2
Crowds
Dec: Low
May: High
Prices
Dec: Low
May: High
Festivals listed
Dec: 0
May: 1
December: Outside the best window (May–Jun, Sep–Oct). Across China: Cold north, pleasant south and Yunnan; Harbin ice season opens late in the month.
May: Inside Dunhuang's best window: May–Jun, Sep–Oct.
Dunhuang: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket