Best Time To Visit Xiamen For Tourists

The best time to visit Xiamen for tourists is spring and autumn, with October and November the pick of the year. Winter is mild and walkable if you do not mind cooler evenings. The one stretch to plan around is summer, when typhoons can arrive between July and September. That has not deterred the numerous tourists who flock to this city. Xiamen is an island city in Fujian Province, China. The coastal town is also called Ludao or Egrets Island, as hundreds of egret live here. Much like Guangzhou, it is a pleasant city to visit any time of the year irrespective of the seasons. It has a sub-tropical maritime climate with temperature averaging 21 degrees Celsius. The attractive seascape of Xiamen is a major tourist attraction, and so is the excellent weather and hot-spring resorts.

Average Weather In Xiamen

Xiamen has a subtropical maritime monsoon climate, so the numbers stay mild for most of the year. The annual average temperature sits around 21 degrees Celsius and the city collects roughly 1,200mm of rain. January is the coldest month, averaging about 12 to 13 degrees, and July is the hottest at close to 28 degrees. The heat never turns brutal the way it does in inland cities, but the humidity climbs hard through the wet months. Here is the month-by-month picture of Xiamen weather:

Month	Average high	Average low	Rainfall
January	17°C	10°C	38mm
February	17°C	10°C	70mm
March	19°C	12°C	92mm
April	23°C	16°C	142mm
May	27°C	21°C	159mm
June	30°C	24°C	211mm
July	32°C	26°C	155mm
August	32°C	25°C	154mm
September	31°C	24°C	119mm
October	27°C	21°C	33mm
November	24°C	17°C	36mm
December	19°C	12°C	24mm

Two patterns decide how a trip goes. The rainy season runs from May to August and drops more than half the year’s rain, with the heaviest downpours in June. That same window is the typhoon season: Xiamen gets four to five typhoons a year, worst in August, then July, then September, and a big one can bring a day or two of hard rain and strong wind. October and November, by contrast, are the driest months on the calendar, which is much of why autumn is the standout time to come.

Spring Time In Xiamen

Spring in Xiamen is from March to May and is one of the best times to visit Xiamen for tourists. The temperature is balmy between 16 degrees to 24 degrees Celsius. The days are full of sunshine and a cool sea breeze. In Xiamen, the Phoenix trees are a sight to see. It is also known as the Flamboyant tree for its extravagant red flowers, and elegant full branches. The Bougainvillea spectabilis, which is the city’s official flower, add an extra touch of color and magic to the town. Hubinbei Lu and Gulangyu Island are the choicest places to admire these flowers. The Xiamen Botanical Garden also transforms into a sea of colors and is a must visit. The Shuzhuang Garden is the ideal place to admire the beautiful gardens and take professional quality photography. The Piano Museum is also worth taking a look at. It is home to the most massive upright piano in the world. Long sleeved t-shirts, light jackets and sweaters and rain gear is the most appropriate clothing during this time of the year.

Summer in Xiamen

Summer runs from June to September, and it is the stretch most visitors plan around rather than toward. Daytime highs sit in the low thirties, the humidity is heavy, and this is when the typhoons arrive. A single storm rarely wrecks a whole trip, but it can suspend the ferries to Gulangyu and bring a day or two of hard rain, so leave some slack in a summer itinerary. It is not a write-off either. Between systems the skies clear, the sea is warm enough for swimming off the island’s beaches, and outside the July and August school-holiday peak the hotel rates can soften. Pack light, breathable clothing, a real umbrella and sandals. If your dates are flexible, though, the shoulder months on either side of summer are the safer bet.

Xiamen Weather October To November - Fall

The Koelreuteria henryi trees heralds the fall season in Xiamen as their flowers turn a shade of yellow. The fall in this city is in October and November. The temperature remains between a comfortable 12 degrees and 23 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is minimal during this time of the year. Xiamen is well known and famous for dark dragon tea as well as the moon cake. It is during this time when tourists can get a golden opportunity to taste this famous scented dark dragon tea. The special moon cake can also be savored during mid-autumn. Fall or autumn is considered an auspicious time to eat this cake. It is also the best time to visit Xiamen University as the changing foliage adds beauty to the campus. The Hakka Tulou in Nanjing; a mysterious and unique Hakka architecture is also best viewed during this time. Autumn is also the best time to taste seafood as they are at their fattest. Long sleeved shirts and t-shirts with light coats and jackets are the recommended attire for a visit during this season.

Xiamen Weather December To February - Winter

Winter in Xiamen is a comfortable 13 degrees Celsius and it is from December to February. The city’s biggest sporting event lands in this season too. The Xiamen Marathon is run in early January, one of China’s premier road races, drawing tens of thousands of runners along the coastal Island Ring Boulevard, so book a room early if your dates overlap. A winter activity that is almost exclusive to Xiamen is the 5-star hot spring resorts. The Trithorn Hotspring and Riyuegu Hotspring Resort are two of the most well-known resorts. Thermal hotbeds and natural hot spring pools provide an excellent opportunity to relax. It can be a therapeutic break from the chaos of life. The facilities offered at these resorts are of international standards and is perfect for a winter getaway with a partner, or alone. Gulangyu’s Trinity Church annual music concert in December is a significant attraction, for Christians and non-Christians alike. The climate and the overall scenic beauty of this island city are magnificent throughout the year. With flowers blooming and the pleasant temperatures, it is an ideal place to visit. However, as with the rest of the country, it is best to avoid traveling to the city during the national holidays. Massive crowds throng the city and the rates of accommodation, hotel rooms and flights and travel modes gets more expensive.

• National Holiday week is from the 1st to 7th October.
• Chinese New Year celebrations around late January to early February.

So when is the best time to visit Xiamen?

If you want one answer, aim for October and November. Autumn brings the driest weather of the year, warm days that never get sticky, seafood at its best and the changing colors on the Xiamen University campus, all without the summer typhoons or the winter chill. March and April are a close second, with spring flowers and mild temperatures before the rains set in. Winter is quiet and cheap and perfectly walkable if cooler evenings do not bother you, and it is the only time to catch the January marathon. The one stretch to plan carefully around is July to September, when the heat, humidity and typhoons all peak at once. Whenever you come, Xiamen rewards a slow pace: the island is small, the sea is never far, and the weather is forgiving for most of the year.