Hebei is a coastal province in northern China that wraps around Beijing and Tianjin on three sides and meets the Bohai Sea to the east. It holds the UNESCO Chengde Mountain Resort, the eastern terminus of the Great Wall at Shanhaiguan and Laolongtou, the Beidaihe seaside resort, and the world's oldest open-spandrel stone arch bridge at Zhaozhou.
Hebei spans a temperate monsoon climate on the North China Plain and a colder continental climate in the Yan and Taihang mountains and the Zhangjiakou plateau. Shijiazhuang and the plain cities have hot, humid summers concentrated with rain in July-August and cold, dry winters; Qinhuangdao and Beidaihe on the Bohai coast are milder and breezier; Chengde, ringed by mountains, runs several degrees cooler than the plain; and Zhangjiakou's plateau near Chongli is the coldest part of the province, with a genuine ski season. Annual rainfall on the plain is roughly 500-600 mm, about two-thirds of it falling in July and August. Figures below are approximate long-term averages for Shijiazhuang unless noted.
Best time to visit
Best: May-June and September-October
Best Reason: May and June bring mild, dry weather with highs around 24-29°C in Shijiazhuang before peak summer humidity sets in, ideal for Chengde and Shanhaiguan. September and October are clear and cool for the Great Wall and mountain temples, while Beidaihe's beach season peaks from late June through August when the Bohai Sea is warm enough for swimming.
Peak Season: 1-7 October (National Day Golden Week), July-August at Beidaihe beach, and the ski season at Zhangjiakou's Chongli slopes (December-March)
Avoid: Late July to mid-August inland for heat and humidity, and January for bitter cold across the plain
Avoid Reason: July and August combine 30-33°C heat with humidity and the year's heaviest rain in Shijiazhuang and Baoding; the North China Plain also sees occasional flash flooding in this window. Winter (December-February) is cold and dry, with Shijiazhuang lows near -6°C and Zhangjiakou considerably colder, plus periodic smog episodes on the plain.
Summary: May-June and September-October (with Beidaihe's beach season running June-September)
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
-2°C/28°F (Shijiazhuang; high 5°C, low -7°C; about 3 mm rain)
Cold and dry with occasional smog; low season with quiet sights and low hotel prices, ski season underway at Chongli
February
1°C/34°F (Shijiazhuang; high 9°C, low -5°C; about 6 mm rain)
Still cold, warming slightly; Spring Festival and Lantern Festival fairs draw local crowds mid-month in some years
March
8°C/46°F (Shijiazhuang; high 16°C, low 0°C; about 12 mm rain)
Spring begins; blossoms open but dust storms and windy days are possible
April
15°C/59°F (Shijiazhuang; high 23°C, low 8°C; about 22 mm rain)
Pleasant and green on the plain; a comfortable month for Chengde and Zhaozhou Bridge before summer crowds
May
21°C/70°F (Shijiazhuang; high 29°C, low 15°C; about 35 mm rain)
Warm and mostly dry, good for Great Wall sites at Shanhaiguan; Beidaihe still cool for swimming but pleasant for walks
June
26°C/79°F (Shijiazhuang; high 33°C, low 20°C; about 45 mm rain)
Hot and increasingly humid inland; Beidaihe's beach season opens and the sea begins to warm
July
27°C/81°F (Shijiazhuang; high 31°C, low 23°C; about 170 mm rain)
Hot, humid and the wettest month on the plain, with heavy thunderstorms; Beidaihe is at its busiest and most pleasant for swimming
August
26°C/79°F (Shijiazhuang; high 30°C, low 22°C; about 140 mm rain)
Still hot and humid inland with heavy rain; peak Beidaihe beach season continues with domestic holidaymakers
September
20°C/68°F (Shijiazhuang; high 27°C, low 15°C; about 45 mm rain)
Cooling and clearer inland; a very good month for Chengde, Shanhaiguan and Zhengding, with Beidaihe's crowds thinning
October
13°C/55°F (Shijiazhuang; high 21°C, low 8°C; about 20 mm rain)
Dry, crisp and clear, the best month for Great Wall sightseeing; Golden Week (1-7 October) is very crowded nationwide
November
6°C/43°F (Shijiazhuang; high 13°C, low 0°C; about 10 mm rain)
Cool and dry with autumn colour lingering in the Chengde mountains; smog can begin as winter heating starts
December
-1°C/30°F (Shijiazhuang; high 6°C, low -6°C; about 3 mm rain)
Cold and dry with a risk of smog on the plain; ski season begins at Chongli near Zhangjiakou
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Mar-May
Warming from around 8°C in March to 23°C in May on the plain (highs 12-29°C), with dust and occasional sandstorms blowing in from the north in March and April. Chengde and the mountains stay noticeably cooler and windier than Shijiazhuang.
Summer
Months: Jun-Aug
Hot and humid on the plain with highs of 30-33°C in June-August and the year's heaviest rain, while Beidaihe stays several degrees cooler by the sea and becomes the province's busiest beach destination. Zhangjiakou and Chengde's mountains offer a cooler escape from plain heat.
Fall
Months: Sep-Nov
The most comfortable season: dry, clear and cooling from highs around 27°C in September to 13°C in November, excellent for Chengde, Shanhaiguan and the Great Wall sections around Qinhuangdao. Mountain foliage colours the Yan Mountains around Chengde in October.
Winter
Months: Dec-Feb
Cold and dry on the plain with highs 3-8°C and lows near -6°C, and considerably colder in Chengde and especially Zhangjiakou's Chongli ski area, which hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics snow events. Smog episodes can affect Shijiazhuang and other plain cities.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- 1-7 October (Golden Week), July-August weekends at Beidaihe, Chinese New Year, and the December-March ski season at Chongli
- Shoulder Season
- April-June and September-October
- Low Season
- December-February on the plain (outside Spring Festival, excluding the Chongli ski resorts) and hot, humid late July-August inland
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Beidaihe Summer Beach Season
Qinhuangdao's Beidaihe district fills with domestic holidaymakers for swimming, birdwatching on the coastal wetlands and seafood dining
Chengde Summer Cultural and Tourism Festival
Cultural performances and events around the Chengde Mountain Resort and Eight Outer Temples during the cooler mountain summer
Chongli Ski Season, Zhangjiakou
Zhangjiakou's Chongli district, a 2022 Winter Olympics snow-sports venue, runs multiple ski resorts including Genting Secret Garden and Thaiwoo
Spring Festival and Lantern Festival fairs
Temple fairs, lantern displays and fireworks in Shijiazhuang, Baoding and Handan; many businesses close for several days
National Day Golden Week
China's busiest domestic travel week; Chengde, Shanhaiguan and Beidaihe see the year's largest crowds and highest hotel prices