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Dalian sits on the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, where the Yellow Sea and Bohai Strait keep the city cooler than inland northeast China in summer and milder than the Siberian cold to the north in winter. Expect a monsoon-influenced continental climate: cold, dry winters and warm, humid summers, with roughly 600 mm of rain falling almost entirely between June and September. Use this month-by-month breakdown to plan your trip, part of the broader Dalian travel guide.
Dalian Weather by Month: Winter (December to February)
December averages a high of 3°C (37°F) and a low of -4°C (25°F), January drops to 0°C (32°F) by day and -7°C (19°F) at night, and February begins to recover to 2°C (36°F) high and -5°C (23°F) low. Snow is rare and light, averaging 3 to 5 snow days a month and 8 to 10 mm of precipitation, so the ground is more often dry and windy than snowy. The sea off Dalian cools to around 2°C (36°F) in January, and in the coldest winters thin sea ice can form along the shore. Pack a heavy coat, hat, and gloves, and check the best time to visit Dalian article before booking a winter trip.
Dalian Weather by Month: Spring (March to May)
March still sits cold, with a high of 8°C (46°F) and low of 0°C (32°F), but April warms quickly to 15°C (59°F) high and 7°C (45°F) low, and May reaches 20°C (68°F) by day and 12°C (54°F) at night. Rain stays modest at 20 to 45 mm a month, and April and May are among the driest, clearest months of the year, ideal for walking the Binhai Road coastal path or the things to do in Dalian listed in our activity guide.
Dalian Weather by Month: Summer (June to August)
Summer is warm and humid but noticeably cooler than Beijing or Shanghai. June averages 24°C (75°F) high and 17°C (63°F) low, July 27°C (81°F) high and 21°C (70°F) low, and August is the warmest at 28°C (82°F) high and 21°C (70°F) low. July and August bring the bulk of the rain, 140 mm and 170 mm respectively, often in short afternoon downpours. This is peak beach season, and the sea warms to 22 to 24°C (72 to 75°F) in August, so Xinghai Bay and Golden Pebble Beach fill up. Book rooms early if you want a specific where to stay in Dalian recommendation.
Dalian Weather by Month: Autumn (September to November)
Autumn is the most comfortable season. September averages 24°C (75°F) high and 16°C (61°F) low with rain dropping to 60 mm, October cools to 17°C (63°F) high and 9°C (48°F) low with just 30 mm, and November falls to 9°C (48°F) high and 1°C (34°F) low. October skies are clear and dry, and the autumn foliage along the hills around the city peaks in late October. Several of the city’s biggest Dalian events and festivals run in September and October, making this a strong window to visit.
Dalian Weather by Month: Comparison Table
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rain (mm) | Sea Temp | Sunshine (hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0°C (32°F) | -7°C (19°F) | 8 | 2°C (36°F) | 180 |
| February | 2°C (36°F) | -5°C (23°F) | 9 | 1°C (34°F) | 190 |
| March | 8°C (46°F) | 0°C (32°F) | 14 | 4°C (39°F) | 230 |
| April | 15°C (59°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 32 | 8°C (46°F) | 245 |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 45 | 13°C (55°F) | 270 |
| June | 24°C (75°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 78 | 18°C (64°F) | 240 |
| July | 27°C (81°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 140 | 22°C (72°F) | 220 |
| August | 28°C (82°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 170 | 24°C (75°F) | 225 |
| September | 24°C (75°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 60 | 22°C (72°F) | 245 |
| October | 17°C (63°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 | 17°C (63°F) | 230 |
| November | 9°C (48°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 22 | 12°C (54°F) | 175 |
| December | 3°C (37°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 10 | 6°C (43°F) | 165 |
Dalian Weather by Month: Sea Temperature and Swimming
The sea off Dalian is swimmable from late June to early September, when water temperatures sit between 18°C and 24°C (64 to 75°F). August is the warmest month at 24°C (75°F), and the beach season at Xinghai Bay and Golden Pebble Beach runs from roughly 1 June to 1 October, with lifeguards on duty in July and August. Outside summer the water drops to 2 to 13°C (36 to 55°F), too cold for swimming. If you prefer mountain and city sights over beaches, the Dalian travel tips article has indoor and rainy-day ideas.
Dalian Weather by Month: Sunshine and Humidity
Dalian gets about 2,600 sunshine hours a year, peaking at 8 to 9 hours a day in May and averaging 5 to 6 hours in winter. Humidity runs 50 to 60 percent in the dry winter and early spring months, then climbs to 70 to 85 percent in July and August when the summer monsoon brings fog and rain off the sea. June and July can see coastal fog, especially in the mornings, which usually burns off by midday. For a full sense of which window suits your trip, read the Dalian neighborhoods page and cross-check the climate table above.
