Best Time to Visit Taiyuan

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

April, May, September and October are the months to pick. April is fresh, with highs around 21°C and chilly mornings. May is warmer and still comfortable, and it's dry enough for walking around the Jinci Temple grounds, a leafy complex of ancient halls and springs southwest of the city. September is a little wetter but still pleasant. October is crisp and clear, and it's a good month for day trips to Pingyao's old walled town or the Qiao Family Compound.

Want a city break with lots of walking? Aim for late April or early October. You can spend a whole day at the Shanxi Museum and along the Fen River park without sweating or shivering.

Summer: hot, then wet

June is warm and mostly dry, with highs around 32°C. July is the same heat, but it brings the heaviest rain of the year: 124 mm over 14 days. August is nearly as wet, at 115 mm. Showers tend to be short and heavy rather than all-day drizzle. Cave temples and museums make good wet-day plans. The Yungang Grottoes near Datong are a long trip, so check the forecast before you commit.

Summer is also when Chinese school holidays run, roughly July and August. Expect more families at big sights like Pingyao and Wutai Mountain, a Buddhist pilgrimage area that is cooler than the city. Taiyuan itself stays fairly calm for foreign visitors at any time of year.

Winter and early spring: cold and quiet

December and January are the coldest and driest months, and both are rated Poor. Lows hit -10°C in January and -9°C in December, so the cold is the main challenge. Skies are often dry and fairly bright, which suits indoor sightseeing. Try a long lunch of Shanxi knife-cut noodles (daoxiao mian) or a bowl of tangy local vinegar-based dishes. Shanxi is famous for its vinegar.

February is still cold, though it's a little gentler. It's also when Chinese New Year usually falls, so many restaurants and shops close for several days, and trains fill up as people travel home. If you come then, book your rail tickets early. Temple fairs and lantern displays can add colour around the Lantern Festival, about two weeks later.

March is a mixed bag. Days reach 14°C but nights still dip below freezing. November is similar in reverse, with cool, dry days and a rating of Good. Both are cheap, quiet and fine if you don't mind a jacket.