Xining Weather & Seasons - Best Time to Visit Xining

☂ Temperature: 9.5°C ~ 24.6°C, cool and rainy

Not like most cities in China with a hot summer, Xining in summer is rather cool and the scenery is beautiful with green grass and yellow rape flowers, which makes summer one of the best seasons to visit Xining. However, the ultraviolet rays are still strong and it is also the rainy season, so please pay close attention to the weather forecast and be prepared in advance.

• Seasonal Activities:
1) Appreciate the vast field of rape flowers around Qinghai Lake, take a hike or bike tour along the lake and feel the summer breeze.
2) Meet the "mirror of the sky" - Chaka Salt Lake on a sightseeing train.
3) Take part in Shaman Festival in Tongren, which usually falls in July or August.

• What to Wear & Pack:
Regular summer outfit such as T-shirt, blouse, sneakers, sunscreen cream, sunhat, and sunglasses. Remember to take a light raincoat in this rainy season and bring a coat in case it gets cold at night.

✔ Popular Xining Tour: 4 Days Qinghai Lake Chaka Lake Tour from Xining | 6 Days Tongren Shaman Festival Tour

☃ Temperature: -13.6°C ~ 7.8°C, cold, dry and windy

Xining in winter is extremely cold. There is little rainfall and with the blowing wind, you can obviously feel the dry weather. As the temperature drops sharply, it is very likely to meet some snow days. Besides, it’s the off-season of traveling Xining, there will be much fewer tourists in the attractions.

• Seasonal Activities:
1) Have fun on the frozen Qinghai Lake and it seems that the mirror-like lake has really become a mirror. You can take some beautiful pictures as you stand on the lake in sunshine.
2) Take some indoors activities such as visiting the Tibetan Medicine Culture Museum.
3) Take a hike to the Amne Machin Snow Mountain.

• What to Wear & Pack:
Winter coats, gloves, scarfs, leather jackets, down coats, woolen hats, sweaters, thermal clothes, etc. You can take some facial cream and hand cream to protect your skin from the dry weather.

✔ Popular Xining Tour: 3 Days Qinghai Short Stay Tour | 5 Days Amdo Tibetan Culture Experience Tour

Xining is the starting point and transfer center for a Qinghai tour. It’s suitable to spend 1 day discovering the top attractions in Xining, including the Kumbum Monastery, Dongguan Mosque, Tibetan Medicine & Tibet Culture Museum. The vast and beautiful Qinghai Lake, about 2.5 hours’ drive from Xining is the No.1 must-visit attraction. You can spend one day here appreciating the water scenery, hiking or biking along the lake or taking a Qinghai Lake cruise (cruise is only available from May to October). With one more day, you can expand trip to the Chaka Salt Lake, known as Mirror of the Sky for its stunning reflected natural landscape on the salt lake. Another day is needed. Usually, people take 3~4 days to visit the three destinations together to explore the cultural and natural highlights of Qinghai.

☛ 3 Days Qinghai Short Stay Tour
☛ 4 Days Enchanting Qinghai Lake Chaka Salt Lake Tour

With short driving distance, there are a few less-known but incredible destinations you can visit, such as the Tongren with authentic Amdo Tibetan Buddhist culture and famous Regong Arts, Kanbula National Forest Park with magnificent Yellow River and Danxia landform. If you’re interested and have more time, you can continue the Buddhist cultural trip to Xiahe (Labrang Monastery) and Linxia (Bingling Temple) in southern Gansu.

☛ 4 Days Qinghai Lake Kanbula National Forest Park Geographic Wonders Tour
☛ 4 Days Qinghai Lake Landscape Tour plus Tongren Authentic Tibetan Culture & Art Exploration
☛ 5 Days Amdo Tibetan Culture Experience Tour

Northwest and southwest China are mysterious lands full of natural beauty and cultural charms. Tourists often make a long trip from Qinghai to neighboring Zhangye (Rainbow Mountains), Jiayuguan, Dunhuang (Mogao Caves) of Gansu along the Silk Road, or make a Sky Train trip to “Roof of the World” - Tibet, visit Potala Palace, Mount Everest, Namtso Lake..., or explore Badain Jaran Desert in Western Inner Mongolia, go further to Urumqi, Turpan and more destinations in Xinjiang and travel land to Jiuzhaigou, Ruo’ergai of Sichuan.

☛ 7 Days Qinghai Lake Zhangye Danxia Badain Jaran Desert Wonders Tour
☛ 6 Days Xining to Lhasa Train Tour by Qinghai Tibet Railway
☛ 6 Days Xining to Lhasa Train Tour by Qinghai Tibet Railway
☛ 12 Days Epic Silk Road Tour including Qinghai Lake and Zhangye Danxia

You can choose from our most popular Qinghai tour packages covering excellent sightseeing and the best local experiences. As an experienced and professional China travel agency, China Discovery also offers customized tour service to help you design a unique trip on your own. Just contact us, tell us your schedule and preferences, we will create a memorable China Qinghai tour for you.