Best Time to Visit Ordos

Spring and early summer: the sweet spot

Winter lets go slowly. March is still frosty at night, and the wind can be sharp on open ground. By April the days are mild and the sky is clear. May and June are the best of it: warm afternoons, cool evenings, and not much rain.

This is the time for the grassland and the desert. Head to Kubuqi Desert, where you can ride dune buggies and slide down sand slopes without roasting. Genghis Khan Mausoleum in Ejin Horo Banner is pleasant to walk around too. Want long, easy days outside? Choose May or June.

Summer and early autumn: green, wetter, busier

July and August are the warmest months, but they're not scorching. Highs sit around 30°C in July and 28°C in August. They're also the wettest. August is the wettest month at 100 mm, and July isn't far behind. Rain tends to come as short storms, so you can still sightsee between them.

This is high season. Chinese school holidays run through July and August, and families head to the grasslands and desert resorts. Expect more people at Kubuqi and Xiangsha Bay. Hotels fill up faster, especially at weekends.

The big event is the Naadam fair, a traditional Mongolian festival of horse racing, wrestling and archery. Dates change from year to year and local festivals vary, so check with a local source before you plan around one.

September is a quiet favourite. It's cooler, the grass is still green, and the crowds thin out once school starts. Rain is still fairly common, with nine wet days, but it's much milder than August.

Late autumn and winter: cold and quiet

October is crisp and clear, and it still rates Excellent. Days are cool at 15°C, and nights fall to near freezing. It's a good month for city sights and for the golden light on the steppe. By November it's properly cold.

From December to February, Ordos is deeply cold. Nights drop to -15°C in January, and even the days stay below freezing in December and January. February only just creeps above, at 1°C. Many outdoor attractions slow down or close, and the desert is no fun in that wind.

If you hate crowds and don't mind the cold, winter gives you the place almost to yourself. Stick to museums and indoor stops in the city, such as the Ordos Museum in Kangbashi. For most people, though, spring and September are the better bet.