Best Time to Visit Wuwei

Spring and autumn: the easy seasons

April and May are the sweet spot for most people. Days go from cool to warm, and nights still need a jacket. Rain is light, so you can wander the Confucius Temple and the old town without checking the sky. March is cold at night, and winter can linger.

September and October are just as good. Early September is a little wetter, but by October the air is crisp and dry-feeling, with the most sun of the autumn months. If you like quiet streets and mild afternoons, aim for these.

Summer: warm, with showers

July is the hottest month, with highs of 31°C. That's warm, not scorching, and nights cool off nicely. August is the wettest, with rain on 14 days. Most of it comes as short showers, so keep your plans loose.

Summer is when Chinese families travel, because schools are out. Expect more tour groups at the Leitai Han Dynasty Tomb, home of the famous Flying Horse (Galloping Horse) bronze, and at the Wuwei Museum. Travelling with kids? Go in the morning and save the museum for a wet afternoon.

Wuwei is also a stop on the old Silk Road. Many people use it as a base for the Hexi Corridor, the long strip of oasis towns running west toward Zhangye and Dunhuang. Summer is great for that road trip, as long as you accept some showers.

Winter: cold, dry and quiet

December and January are the coldest, with lows around -8°C. January is the coldest in our data. The days are dry and fairly sunny, but the cold bites, especially outdoors at the tomb sites and the Tianti Mountain grasslands area. Some outdoor places may be quiet or closed.

If you hate crowds, winter gives you the town almost to yourself. Pack for real cold and plan lots of tea and hot noodle stops. Wuwei's local favourite, Tianzhu-style lamb and hand-pulled noodles, tastes better when it's freezing.

Chinese New Year falls in late January or February and shifts each year. Many local shops close for a few days, but it's a lively time to see family gatherings and street decorations. Check the date for the year you're travelling, since it moves.

For most trips, choose late April, May, or late September. You'll get comfortable walking weather, thinner crowds and the best light for the desert-edge scenery around town.