Beijing is situated in the warm temperature zone and its weather has been characterized as humid continental or continental monsoon. There is a sharp distinction between the four seasons in Beijing weather.  The winters are dry and cold and there sometimes is a little snowfall.  The summer is rainy and hot and the temperature may sometimes reach 30 C. During spring the weather in Beijing is characteristically mild and it can occasionally be a bit windy.  The autumn is considered to be the nicest season in Beijing, when the weather is cool and the skies are clear.

The best time to visit Beijing it is said to be spring and autumn, especially the months April, May, September and October.  Summer and winter are longer than spring and autumn though.

Throughout the year the average temperature is 12 C, with the coldest month being January when the temperature can be as low as -5 C and the hottest month being July with an average temperature of 26 C.  The average precipitation is 700 mm per annum and most of it occurs in July and August and the frost-free period is approximately 180 days in a year.  During summer the combination of humidity and heat creates an uncomfortable atmosphere.  Beijing weather is sometimes affected by severe winds from Siberia and also by northwesterly winds from Mongolia which bring sandstorms during spring time.

If you are visiting Beijing, you need to take warm and waterproof clothes with you, even during spring, as rainstorms could happen without warning on a sunny day. It has been said that many times even weather forecasters only predict showers one or two hours before it happens.  When in Beijing, you can be informed about the weather by dialing 121.