Xi'an Weather in January

January weather in Xi'an

January feels cold, with afternoons around 6°C and nights dipping below freezing. It's also fairly dry, with only a little rain, but short days and frequent cloud can make outdoor visits feel chilly.

The Terracotta Army works well because you can spend time inside its covered excavation halls. Xi'an's City Wall is still worth seeing, but a long walk along its exposed top may feel cold. Save a relaxed meal in the Muslim Quarter for the end of the day; a steaming bowl of yangrou paomo, bread soaked in lamb soup, is welcome after sightseeing.

Holidays and crowds

New Year's Day brings a public holiday, while Lunar New Year can fall in January or February. Its dates change each year, and travel can get busy around the holiday as people visit family. Check your trip dates against the Lunar New Year calendar.

If you hate crowds, January outside the holiday period is a quieter time to see the Terracotta Army and the Bell and Drum Towers. It's winter low season, so visitor numbers and hotel rates are generally lower than in Xi'an's popular March-to-April and October periods. The trade-off is cold weather, not spring-like strolls.

A useful winter tip

Travelling with kids? Keep outdoor sightseeing short, then warm up indoors at the Shaanxi History Museum or over noodles near the Drum Tower.

For the Terracotta Army, wear shoes you're happy walking in and take your time in the indoor pits. The site is outside central Xi'an, so the journey there and back adds outdoor time to your day. Pair it with a warm bowl of yangrou paomo back in town, rather than trying to fit in a long evening walk along the City Wall.