January in Forbidden City — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5/10January averages -5°C (24°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rain is a non-issue at 2 mm for the month, with about 1 sunny days and 9.5 hours of daylight to work with.
It scores 5/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Forbidden City — 5 points higher on the same scale.
February in Forbidden City — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.9/10February averages -2°C (29°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rain is a non-issue at 6 mm for the month, with about 6 sunny days and 10.4 hours of daylight to work with.
It scores 5.9/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Forbidden City — 4.1 points higher on the same scale.
March in Forbidden City — reliably good (5th best month)
Good · 8/10March averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rain is a non-issue at 10 mm for the month, with about 16 sunny days and 11.7 hours of daylight to work with.
It scores 8/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Forbidden City — 2 points higher on the same scale.
April in Forbidden City — the year's strongest window
Best window · 9.7/10April averages 14°C (57°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Expect 27 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 20 sunny days and 13.1 daylight hours.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Forbidden City at 9.7/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
May in Forbidden City — the year's strongest window
Best window · 10/10May averages 21°C (70°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
Expect 30 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 27 sunny days and 14.2 daylight hours.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Forbidden City at 10/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.
June in Forbidden City — reliably good (6th best month)
Good · 7.2/10June averages 27°C (80°F), so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Rainfall runs 65 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 28 sunny days and 14.8 hours of daylight.
It scores 7.2/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Forbidden City — 2.8 points higher on the same scale.
July in Forbidden City — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.4/10July averages 27°C (81°F), so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
267 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 22 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 4.4/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Forbidden City — 5.6 points higher on the same scale.
August in Forbidden City — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5/10August averages 25°C (77°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
215 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 19 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 5/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Forbidden City — 5 points higher on the same scale.
September in Forbidden City — reliably good (4th best month)
Good · 8.3/10September averages 20°C (69°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
Rainfall runs 66 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 15 sunny days and 12.2 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.3/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Forbidden City — 1.7 points higher on the same scale.
October in Forbidden City — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.5/10October averages 12°C (54°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rain is a non-issue at 10 mm for the month, with about 9 sunny days and 10.9 hours of daylight to work with.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Forbidden City at 8.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Forbidden City — 1.5 points higher on the same scale.
November in Forbidden City — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.6/10November averages 4°C (40°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Expect 21 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 2 sunny days and 9.7 daylight hours.
It scores 6.6/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Forbidden City — 3.4 points higher on the same scale.
December in Forbidden City — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5/10December averages -5°C (24°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rain is a non-issue at 5 mm for the month, with about 1 sunny days and 9.2 hours of daylight to work with.
It scores 5/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Forbidden City — 5 points higher on the same scale.
