January in Nanjing — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.3/10January averages 4°C (38°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 54 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 1 sunny days and 10.1 hours of daylight.
It scores 5.3/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Nanjing — 3.2 points higher on the same scale.
February in Nanjing — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.7/10February averages 4°C (39°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 86 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 3 sunny days and 10.8 hours of daylight.
It scores 4.7/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Nanjing — 3.8 points higher on the same scale.
March in Nanjing — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.7/10March averages 12°C (53°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 100 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 12 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 6.7/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 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, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Nanjing — 1.8 points higher on the same scale.
April in Nanjing — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 7.6/10April averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 107 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 17 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7.6/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
May in Nanjing — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.5/10May averages 21°C (71°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
Rainfall runs 83 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 23 sunny days and 13.6 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Nanjing 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 light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
June in Nanjing — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.5/10June averages 27°C (80°F) with humidity around 74%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
245 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 20 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 4.5/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 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 Nanjing — 4 points higher on the same scale.
July in Nanjing — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.1/10July averages 29°C (85°F) with humidity around 83%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
220 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 19 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 3.1/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 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 Nanjing — 5.4 points higher on the same scale.
August in Nanjing — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.9/10August averages 30°C (85°F) with humidity around 76%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
At 144 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 22 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 3.9/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 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 proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Nanjing — 4.6 points higher on the same scale.
September in Nanjing — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.5/10September averages 25°C (77°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
At 126 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 13 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.5/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 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 Nanjing — 3 points higher on the same scale.
October in Nanjing — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 7.6/10October averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 72 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 10 sunny days and 11.2 hours of daylight.
It scores 7.6/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
November in Nanjing — reliably good (4th best month)
Good · 7.1/10November averages 13°C (55°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 53 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 3 sunny days and 10.3 hours of daylight.
It scores 7.1/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
December in Nanjing — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6/10December averages 3°C (38°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Expect 31 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 2 sunny days and 9.9 daylight hours.
It scores 6/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Nanjing — 2.5 points higher on the same scale.
