Kashgar Weather & Seasons - Best Time to Visit Kashgar

Kashgar City (coordinates: 35°20′~40°18′N, 73°20′~79°57′E) is located in the southwest of Xinjiang, northeast foothill of Pamirs Plateau, west edge of Tarim Basin, China’s southwest border area and the middle of Central Asia. Kashar City has a Warm Temperate Continental Arid Climate, characterized by four distinct seasons, long summer, short winter, long hours of hot sunshine, little rainfall and a big temperature different between day and night. The annual average temperature of Kashgar is about 11.7 °C and mean annual precipitation is around 61.5 mm. The Kashgar City area belongs to a river alluvial plain with an average altitude of 1,289.5 meters while the Karakul Lake (elevation: 3,600 meters) and Tashkurgan (elevation: around 4,000 meters) are on the Pamirs Plateau.

Best Time to Visit Kashgar

The best time for traveling to Kashgar is from April to October each year, because during this period the temperature is most suitable, the air is better and days are mostly clear. Months from August to October are the best of the best, for it’s not too hot nor too cold, fruits are mature for tasting and scenery like Karakul Lake is the best during this time.

Most Helpful Travel Tips on Kashgar (Xinjiang) Weather

● Big Temperature Difference: In Kashgar and most regions of Xinjiang, temperature varies largely between day and night, regularly differing more than 10 degrees centigrade. You’d better prepare warm jackets for your trip, because it’s quite cold at night (except summer) and in high-altitude areas, or when you visit in winter.
● Strong UV: The UV in Kashgar is strong and the sunshine hours are very long, so it is strongly advised that you take sunblock articles, like sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses, etc.
● Dry Air: Kashgar is dry all year round. So you should drink enough water and bring some moisturizing cream, lip balm, moisturizing mask, etc.
● Different Local Time: Though located northwest China, Xinjiang, including Urumqi and Kashgar, uses the official national standard time - Beijing Time (UTC/GMT+08:00). But the actual sunrise time is at least 2 hours later than Beijing and the sunset & dark time is over 2 hours later as well. Get ready for the time difference during your Kashgar trip and the whole Xinjiang tour.

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Average Kashgar Temperature by Month

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Kashgar Seasons to Go

Kashgar Weather in Spring (March, April, May)

❀ Temperature: 4°C~26°C, cold to warm, dry

Early spring is still chilly and dry. The daytime temperature in March is around 15°C but it’s only 5°C in the evening. From April, the temperature starts to rise obviously. It can be 20-25°C warm during the time, but during night, it remains frigid just a few degrees above zero. In May, it’s getting warmer and warmer, and at night it’s over 15° C. Air quality in this season gets better gradually from April. If you happen to visit Tashkurgan in April, you can view beautiful apricot blossoms and magnificent glacier pagodas. Lesser Bairam (Ruzi Festival), a grand Islamic holiday, usually takes place in late May, so you can rightly feel the special ethnic religious culture. In all, April and May in the middle and end of spring are suitable for visiting Kashgar.

• Seasonal Activities:
1) Walk around Kashgar Old Town, enjoy leisure tea time in the Century-old Tea House; explore Islamic culture and architecture in Id Kah Mosque; experience traditional trade in Kashgar Bazaar (Sunday Livestock Market);
2) visit Abakh Hoja Tomb;; make a 1-2 day trip to Tashkurgan via Karakul Lake.

• What to Wear & Pack:
Better dress in layers, easy to take off and put on.
Long-sleeved clothes (hoodie, shirt...), thin sweater, T-shirt with thin long sleeve coat, casual clothes, jackets, comfortable sports shoes, etc.

Kashgar Old Town & Baisha Lake & Apricot Blossom in Tashkurgan during Spring

Kashgar Weather in March

Max Temperature: 15°C / 59°F
Min Temperature: 4°C / 39.2°F
Avg Temperature: 8°C / 46.4°F
Rainfall: 12 mm
Rainy Days: 3 days
UV Index: 4
Sunrise: 9:28am-8:41am
Sunset: 8:48pm-9:15pm

Kashgar Weather in April

Max Temperature: 22°C / 71.6°F
Min Temperature: 11°C / 51.8°F
Avg Temperature: 16°C / 60.8°F
Rainfall: 22.2 mm
Rainy Days: 8 days
UV Index: 6
Sunrise: 8:40am-7:58am
Sunset: 9:20pm-9:48pm

Kashgar Weather in May

Max Temperature: 26°C / 78.8°F
Min Temperature: 15°C / 59°F
Avg Temperature: 20°C / 68°F
Rainfall: 43.4 mm
Rainy Days: 13 days
UV Index: 6
Sunrise: 7:57am-7:31am
Sunset: 9:49pm-10:16pm

Kashgar Weather in Summer (June, July, August)

☂ Temperature: 17°C~31°C, a little hot, dry, cloudless, big temperature difference between day and night

Summer is the hot season and a time of mellow fruitfulness of Kashgar. In June, the daytime temperature of Kashgar is around 30°C and higher in July (the hottest month) and August. The sunlight during summer is quite strong, so do proper protection and drink lots of water if you do outdoor sightseeing. When you stay indoors and in the shade, it’s very cool and comfortable. In July, the highest temperature is between 30-35°C in the day, unlike the super hot Turpan of above 40°C.

In summer, Kashgar Old Town has lots of green plants climbing up the yellowish walls and the grand Corbon Festival is held in July annually. Meanwhile, major attractions of Kashgar are historical and cultural sites, so you can enjoy a Kashgar summer trip without too much exposure to the sun. The natural landscape on the Pamirs Plateau presents incomparable beauty at this time. The sky is blue with many floating white clouds, the lake water is crystal clear and snowy mountains are visible.

• Seasonal Activities:
1) Visit landmarks of Kashgar in the downtown area, such as the Kashgar Old Town (Ancient Tea House), Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Hoja Tomb, Kashgar Bazaar;
2) make a side trip to Karakul Lake and Tashkurgan;
3) taste Kashgar local food and sweet fruits (pomegranate, fig, apricot, watermelon, grape...)

• What to Wear & Pack:
Thin, light and breathable summer clothes, like T-shirts, jackets, short coats, short skirts, pants, sandals, sneakers, sunglasses, sunhat, etc.

Ancient Tea House, Abakh Hoja Tomb, Summer Melons & Fruits, Karakul Lake & Tashkurgan in July

Kashgar Weather in June

Max Temperature: 29°C / 84.2°F

Min Temperature: 17°C / 62.6°F

Avg Temperature: 24°C / 75.2°F

Rainfall: 16.9 mm

Rainy Days: 12 days

UV Index: 7

Sunrise: 7:30am-7:32am

Sunset: 10:17pm-10:27pm

Kashgar Weather in July

Max Temperature: 31°C / 87.8°F

Min Temperature: 20°C / 68°F

Avg Temperature: 25°C / 77°F

Rainfall: 17.5 mm

Rainy Days: 10 days

UV Index: 7

Sunrise: 7:32am-7:54am

Sunset: 10:27pm-10:09pm

Kashgar Weather in August

Max Temperature: 30°C / 86°F

Min Temperature: 20°C / 68°F

Avg Temperature: 24°C / 75.2°F

Rainfall: 8.9 mm

Rainy Days: 12 days

UV Index: 7

Sunrise: 7:55am-8:23am

Sunset: 10:08pm-9:28pm

Kashgar Weather in Autumn (Sept, Oct, Nov)

☀ Temperature: -2°C~25°C, a little hot to cool, dry, fine weather

September and October of Autumn are good times to travel to Kashgar as well. The city’s temperature begins to fall in September. In September, its daytime temperature is around 25°C and 15°C in the evening. In October, it’s nearly 18°C during the day and often falls to a few degrees centigrade at night. The weather during the first two months is comfy and pleasant, while from November, the temperature decreases sharply, less than 10°C in the day and close to zero in the evening, getting colder and colder. Trees in the city turn picturesque colorful in autumn and the Karakul Lake & Muztagh Ata, Baisha Lake are in the best photography times. Autumn is the peak season for Tajik people in Tashkurgan to host many traditional festivals and their wedding ceremonies.

• Seasonal Activities:
1) Visit Kashgar’s top attractions like the Kashgar Old Town (Ancient Tea House), Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Hoja Tomb, Kashgar Bazaar;
2) take a day trip to Karakul Lake, visit Tashkurgan.

• What to Wear & Pack:
Long-sleeved clothes (hoodie, shirt, jacket, trousers...), comfortable shoes, boots, etc.

Id Kah Mosque, Karakul Lake & Tajik People Wedding in October

Kashgar Weather in September

Max Temperature: 25°C / 77°F

Min Temperature: 14°C / 57.2°F

Avg Temperature: 20°C / 68°F

Rainfall: 2.6 mm

Rainy Days: 4 days

UV Index: 5

Sunrise: 8:24am-8:51am

Sunset: 9:26pm-8:39pm

Kashgar Weather in October

Max Temperature: 18°C / 64.4°F

Min Temperature: 6°C / 42.8°F

Avg Temperature: 13°C / 55.4°F

Rainfall: 0.0 mm

Rainy Days: 0 day

UV Index: 3

Sunrise: 8:52am-9:23am

Sunset: 8:38pm-7:55pm

Kashgar Weather in November

Max Temperature: 8°C / 46.4°F

Min Temperature: -2°C / 28.4°F

Avg Temperature: 5°C / 41°F

Rainfall: 0.0 mm

Rainy Days: 0 day

UV Index: 2

Sunrise: 9:42am-9:56am

Sunset: 7:54pm-7:33pm

Kashgar Weather in Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb)

☃ Temperature: -9°C~8°C, freezing cold, dry, snowy, windy

The winter in Kashgar is very cold, dry and long. It’s the low season, because very few tourists visit Kashgar during this time and the color of the city is bleak and dull. Due to the cold weather, many local shops and restaurants are closed. It has many cloudy days and heavy snow. You can visit Kashgar Old Town in a quiet and least-crowded atmosphere, but it’s quite cold and uncomfortable to walk around for a long time. From December, the daytime temperature drops below zero and lower in the evening. After snow, the roads are icy. Kashgar enters the coldest time in late January and early February, when the temperature is ten degrees centigrade below zero all day. Karakul Lake will be frozen during winter. If you visit Kashgar during this season, remember to dress warm, smear moisturizer and drink plenty of water.

• Seasonal Activities:
1) Visit tourist attractions in downtown Kashgar: Kashgar Old Town (Ancient Tea House), Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Hoja Tomb, Kashgar Bazaar.

• What to Wear & Pack:
Warm hat, scarf, gloves, overcoat and heavy sweater, down jacket, warm boots, lip balm.

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Uygur Children in Kashgar Old Town, Id Kah Mosque and Karakul Lake in Winter

Kashgar Weather in December

Max Temperature: -1°C / 30.2°F

Min Temperature: -8°C / 17.6°F

Avg Temperature: -2°C / 28.4°F

Rainfall: 9.5 mm

Rainy Days: 2 days

UV Index: 2

Sunrise: 9:57am-10:16am

Sunset: 7:32pm-7:42pm

Kashgar Weather in January

Max Temperature: 1°C / 33.8°F

Min Temperature: -9°C / 15.8°F

Avg Temperature: -5°C / 23°F

Rainfall: 4 mm

Rainy Days: 1 day

UV Index: 2

Sunrise: 10:16am-10:05am

Sunset: 7:42pm-8:14pm

Kashgar Weather in February

Max Temperature: 8°C / 46.4°F

Min Temperature: -3°C / 26.6°F

Avg Temperature: 1°C / 33.8°F

Rainfall: 0.5 mm

Rainy Days: 2 days

UV Index: 3

Sunrise: 10:04am-9:30am

Sunset: 8:15pm-8:47pm

How to Plan A Kashgar Xinjiang Tour

How to Get to Kashgar: From mainland cities - you can take domestic flights from Beijing (about 6~7 hours), Xian (about 4 hours), Chengdu (about 6~7 hours), Shanghai (about 8 hours), Guangzhou (about 8 hours), Jinan (about 7 hours), Zhengzhou (about 7 hours), etc., or provincial flights from Urumqi (about 2 hours), Korla (about 1.5 hours), Yili (about 1.5 hours). From the borders - you can also get to Kashgar from land border ports, such as Kalasu Port, Irkeshtam Port, Torugart Port, Khunjerab Port. If you need transfer, we can send a tour guide and driver to pick up you from the borders.

Best Time to Visit Kashgar: suitable for travelling all year around, but May to October is most comfortable and beautiful.

Top Places to Visit Kashgar: Kashgar Old City, Karakul Lake, Tashkurgan (Stone City, Golden Grassland), Id Kah Mosque, Kashgar Bazaar

Plus arrival and departure days, you’d better plan at least 4 days for your Kashgar trip. If you want to extend your trip to Tashkurgan, you need at least 5 days. You can spend 2 days exploring attractions in Kashgar city and its old town, such as Kashgar Bazaar, Kashgar Old City, Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Hoja Tomb, Ancient Tea House, etc., then have a day trip to Karakul Lake from Kashgar. If you want to experience something more authentic, Tashkurgan, about 3.5 hours’ drive from Kashgar, is strongly recommended.

☛ 4 Days In-depth Kashgar Tour to Karakul Lake
☛ 5 Days Legendary Pamirs Tour from Kashgar to Tashkurgan

After Kashgar tour, you can take a flight to Urumqi to marvel at the alluring Heavenly Lake and visit the mummy and Silk Road exhibitions in Xinjiang Regional Museum, then keep traveling to Turpan to see the grape valleys, visit historical Jiaohe Ancient City, etc. For an in-depth Silk Road journey, you can travel from Kashgar to Hotan, Kuqa, Taklamakan Desert, etc., which usually need about 8~13 days. If you love landscape, don’t miss out the Kanas Lake in northern Xinjiang.

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Kashgar and Xinjiang regions can also be connected to other Silk Road destinations easily, such as Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Xian, etc. Qinghai, Tibet, Inner Mongolia are also some recommended extensions of Kashgar Xinjiang trip. Find recommended Silk Road tours here or contact us to tailor-make a trip of your own if you want to discover more destinations.

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