Zhangjiajie City is located in the northwest of Hunan Province, China, in the hinterland of the Wuling Mountains. Its geographical coordinates are between 109°40′ E and 111°20′ E longitude, and 28°52′ N and 29°48′ N. Zhangjiajie belongs to the subtropical mountain prototype monsoon humid climate zone. This climate is characterised by four distinct seasons, with cool summers and mild winters.
General picture of temperature in Zhangjiajie
The annual average temperature in Zhangjiajie is about 16.4 °C to 16.8 °C. The frost free period is long, usually between 245 and 268 days, with approximately 15 days of snowfall throughout the year. The average annual sunshine duration is 1449.6 hours, and the average annual precipitation is about 1400 millimeters.
January is the coldest time in Zhangjiajie, with an average temperature of about 4.3 °C and an extreme minimum temperature close to zero degrees. July is the hottest time in Zhangjiajie, with an average temperature of about 28 °C and an extreme maximum temperature of around 37.2 °C. In high-altitude scenic areas, there is a large temperature difference between day and night, which can reach around 10 °C.
Four seasons in Zhangjiajie
Spring (March~May): The temperature gradually warms up in spring, with an average temperature of about 8 °C to 26 °C in Zhangjiajie. The rainfall in spring is beginning to increase, but most days are still sunny or partially cloudy. Sometimes there will be showers, especially in April.
Summer (June~August): Zhangjiajie is relatively hot in summer, with an average temperature between 19 °C and 28 °C. The average temperature in July, the hottest month, is about 28 °C. Summer is one of the peak tourist seasons in Zhangjiajie and a great time to escape the heat. Due to its location in the mountainous area, we can enjoy coolness even on hot days.
However, summer is also the season with the most precipitation, often accompanied by thunderstorms and brief strong convective weather. There is a large temperature difference between morning and evening, so it is recommended to bring a thin jacket for emergencies.
Autumn (September~November): The temperature in Zhangjiajie during autumn is moderate, with an average temperature between 10 °C and 24 °C. The daytime temperature in September is still relatively high, around 24 °C to 30 °C. After entering October, the temperature gradually decreases, with the average daytime temperature dropping to around 20 °C. Autumn is the golden tourist season in Zhangjiajie, with clear weather, blue sky, pleasant white weather, and cool nights.
Winter (December~February): Zhangjiajie is relatively mild in winter, with an average temperature between 4 °C and 10 °C. The average temperature in January, the coldest month, is about 4.3 °C, with an extreme minimum temperature close to zero degrees.
Winter is relatively dry, with an increase in sunny days, but there may also be low-temperature rain and snow weather. When encountering snowfall, the entire scenic area will be covered in white, presenting a world of ice and snow. High altitude areas such as Tianmen Mountain may experience snowfall earlier, making it beautiful snow scenery.
Weather types in Zhangjiajie
In Zhangjiajie, there are about 150 days of sunny days in a year, i.e. days with no clouds at all or only a few puffy clouds. There are about 60 days of cloudy days. There are between 170 and 200 rainy days. A day is considered a rainy day if rainfall is recorded at some point during the day, including short-lived precipitation phenomena such as showers and thunderstorms. Snow days are fewer in number, usually less than 10 days in a year. They are mainly concentrated in winter and at high altitudes.
Due to Zhangjiajie's geographical location and topographical features, especially in the mountainous areas, it is easy to form a foggy and cloudy scene, and there may be 30 to 50 days of foggy days throughout the year. High altitude area like Tianmen Mountain is shrouded in fog for about 263 days a year.
*Data source: Central Meteorological Observatory
