When to go · Shigatse
Shigatse 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
- −2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C) / −13°C (9°F)9°F (−13°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 2
- 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
- ShigatseHighs around -2 °C (28 °F), lows around -13 °C (9 °F), rain on about 2 daysHighs around 28 °F (-2 °C), lows around 9 °F (-13 °C), rain on about 2 days
- Tibetan plateau, China · Lhasa, Shigatse, western Sichuan, Qinghaicool
Altitude 3,000–5,000 m: strong sun, cold nights all year. Permits for Tibet often pause in March — check.
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 Shigatse, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Good
May: Great (better)
Daytime high
Dec: -2 °C (28 °F)28 °F (-2 °C)
May: 16 °C (61 °F)61 °F (16 °C)
Night low
Dec: -13 °C (9 °F)9 °F (-13 °C)
May: 0 °C (32 °F)32 °F (0 °C)
Rain days
Dec: 2 (better)
May: 5
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 Shigatse's best window: May–Jun, Sep–Oct.
Shigatse: 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