Beijing Weather in August

Hot, humid days

August in Beijing feels sticky, with warm nights and frequent rain. The high is 31°C, humidity is 70%, and rain falls on 14 days. July is hotter and wetter, but August is still a tough month for long days outdoors.

The Forbidden City and the Great Wall are exposed, so heat and showers can make sightseeing tiring. Keep indoor stops, such as the National Museum of China, in your day's mix. The covered walkways at the Summer Palace offer some shelter, though its gardens are still best enjoyed when the sky is clear.

Make room for rain

Rain can interrupt walks through the hutongs, the old lanes around Nanluoguxiang. Summer storms may also affect plans for a Great Wall visit, so avoid putting all your outdoor sightseeing into one day.

If you hate crowds, save the busiest sights for a weekday. August is school-holiday season in China, and popular spots like the Forbidden City can feel packed. Prices for hotels and flights are often higher than in the calmer shoulder months of April, May, September and October.

August plans

There isn't one major fixed-date holiday that draws visitors to Beijing every August. Qixi, often called Chinese Valentine's Day, sometimes falls in August, but its date changes each year. You may see couples out for dinner if it does.

Travelling with kids? The Beijing Subway makes it easier to switch plans when rain sets in. For the Forbidden City, use its north-south route: enter at the Meridian Gate and leave at the Gate of Divine Might. That keeps your visit moving in one direction and puts you close to Jingshan Park for a short, elevated view when the weather cooperates.