Hangzhou Weather

Hangzhou weather is generally warm and mild all year round, with abundant sunshine and rainfall. There are four clear-cut seasons – a wet and rainy spring, a hot and humid summer, a cool and clear autumn, and a dry and cold winter. There are two rainy seasons in the region – one is the Plum Rain Season beginning in late June through early July; the other comes with heavy rains and potential typhoons in August and September.

Best Time to Visit Hangzhou
The high tourist season usually occurs in spring from March to May and also autumn from September to November, when the weather in Hangzhou is pleasant with an average temperature of 17 C (63 F).

Hangzhou is located in a subtropical monsoon climate zone. The weather is generally mild but still has four distinct seasons.

 

Generally, its spring starts in March and ends in middle June. The temperatures are variable but generally warmer. This is the time of the Qingming Festival. There are usually temperate spring rains to dampen the earth. After the rain, the lakes, hills and pavilions peep out from a thin layer of fog.

Peach blossoms appear as do green willows and the bursting colors of new blooms. This is a good time to stroll on the Su Causeway on West Lake. It is also a happy time for tea growers who are busy harvesting green tea leaves in their gardens. A light sweater or jacket will keep you comfortable.
 

Summer weather here is usually rainy and hot and extends from middle June to late September. The hottest days fall in July when the average temperature is 29 C (84 F). The end of June to early July marks the Meiyu or Plum Rain Season. It's so-called because plums ripen in the early summer. From late August to the end of September typhoons often occur accompanied by heavy wind and rain. It's not a good time to be without an umbrella. When it's not raining the umbrella makes a nice prop for photos on West Lake's Nine Zigzag Bridge with its backdrop of blossoming lotus flowers.
 

Autumn runs from October to early December. The sky is always clear and the city is redolent of the sweet scent of osmanthus in Manlong Guiyu Park. Pack long-sleeved shirts and a light overcoat during this time of the year. The most popular time to visit is the Mid-Autumn Festival when people go to watch the surging tide of the Qiantang River during the day.  In the evening, visitors gather to admire the bright moon over the West Lake.
 

Winter in Hangzhou is from middle December to February. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 3 C (37 F) with some snow. Bring a down coat, a wool sweater, winter boots and gloves if you're going there in winter.