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Best time to visit Sanya

The best time to visit Sanya is December–February, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.

Sanya, Hainan, China

°C

mm

−10°0°10°20°30°40°
0100200300400500
  • Average daily high and low
  • Precipitation
  • Good month
  • Best month
  • Made good or best by an event
Average daily high and low temperature, average precipitation and each month's verdict
MonthAverage daily highAverage daily lowPrecipitationVerdict
January22.9 °C / 73 °F18.5 °C / 65 °F14 mm / 0.5 inbest month
February23.7 °C / 75 °F19.6 °C / 67 °F10 mm / 0.4 inbest month
March25.6 °C / 78 °F21.8 °C / 71 °F17 mm / 0.7 ingood month
April27.7 °C / 82 °F24.3 °C / 76 °F42 mm / 1.7 inneither best nor good
May29.6 °C / 85 °F26.2 °C / 79 °F138 mm / 5.4 inneither best nor good
June30 °C / 86 °F27.1 °C / 81 °F215 mm / 8.5 inneither best nor good
July29.6 °C / 85 °F26.7 °C / 80 °F280 mm / 11 inneither best nor good
August29.5 °C / 85 °F26.5 °C / 80 °F269 mm / 10.6 inneither best nor good
September29.3 °C / 85 °F26 °C / 79 °F267 mm / 10.5 inneither best nor good
October28 °C / 82 °F24.5 °C / 76 °F248 mm / 9.8 inneither best nor good
November26.5 °C / 80 °F22.5 °C / 73 °F51 mm / 2 ingood month
December24 °C / 75 °F19.6 °C / 67 °F21 mm / 0.8 inbest month
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen

Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:

  • Daytime highs
  • Night-time lows
  • How warm it feels
  • Humidity
  • How much of the day is sunny
  • Hours of daylight
  • Monthly rainfall
  • How many days it rains
  • Days of heavy rain
  • Wind
  • Snowfall and days with snow
  • Major events, such as festivals

The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.

The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.

Best months by activity

Exploring outdoors

Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.

  1. JJanuary: best
  2. FFebruary: best
  3. MMarch: good
  4. AApril: neither
  5. MMay: neither
  6. JJune: neither
  7. JJuly: neither
  8. AAugust: neither
  9. SSeptember: neither
  10. OOctober: neither
  11. NNovember: good
  12. DDecember: best
Best
December–February
Good
March, November

Sanya's dry season from December to February (fading into March) is mild, sunny and low-rain enough for excellent walking tours, but the May-September monsoon brings heavy heat, humidity and rain that make exploring on foot unpleasant, easing again through October into November.

Why these months

  • January · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 23.5 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 22.9 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 14 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, wet days 2.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 18.5 °C / 65 °F.

    Against: relative humidity 79%.

    Watch out for: Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) crowds.

  • February · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 25.4 °C / 78 °F, average daily high 23.7 °C / 75 °F, precipitation 10 mm / 0.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, wet days 2.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 19.6 °C / 67 °F.

    Against: relative humidity 82%.

    Watch out for: Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) crowds.

  • March · good

    In its favour: average daily high 25.6 °C / 78 °F, precipitation 17 mm / 0.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, wet days 4 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 21.8 °C / 71 °F.

    Against: relative humidity 84%, feels like (high) 28.9 °C / 84 °F.

  • November · good

    In its favour: precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, average daily high 26.5 °C / 80 °F, days with heavy rain 1 days, wet days 6.5 days.

    Against: feels like (high) 28.6 °C / 83 °F, relative humidity 79%, average daily low 22.5 °C / 73 °F.

  • December · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 24.5 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 24 °C / 75 °F, precipitation 21 mm / 0.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily low 19.6 °C / 67 °F.

    Against: relative humidity 77%.

Beach and swimming

Hot, dry and sunny. Penalises the monsoon hard.

  1. JJanuary: good
  2. FFebruary: good
  3. MMarch: best
  4. AApril: best
  5. MMay: good
  6. JJune: good
  7. JJuly: good
  8. AAugust: good
  9. SSeptember: good
  10. OOctober: good
  11. NNovember: best
  12. DDecember: best
Best
March–April, November–December
Good
January–February, May–October

Sanya's beaches are strong nearly all year: March, April, November and December are best with warm seas, comfortable heat and minimal rain, January-February slip to good only because the sea is still cool from winter, and the May-October monsoon keeps the sea and sun good but adds heavy, often afternoon rain and feels-like heat above the ideal beach range.

Why these months

  • January · good

    In its favour: precipitation 14 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, wet days 2.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, feels like (high) 23.5 °C / 74 °F, average daily low 18.5 °C / 65 °F, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.

    Against: sea temperature 23.8 °C / 75 °F, average daily high 22.9 °C / 73 °F.

    Watch out for: Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) crowds.

  • February · good

    In its favour: precipitation 10 mm / 0.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, wet days 2.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily high 23.7 °C / 75 °F, feels like (high) 25.4 °C / 78 °F, average daily low 19.6 °C / 67 °F, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.

    Against: sea temperature 24.1 °C / 75 °F.

    Watch out for: Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) crowds.

  • March · best

    In its favour: precipitation 17 mm / 0.7 in, average daily high 25.6 °C / 78 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, feels like (high) 28.9 °C / 84 °F, wet days 4 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 21.8 °C / 71 °F, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.

  • April · best

    In its favour: average daily high 27.7 °C / 82 °F, precipitation 42 mm / 1.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, feels like (high) 32.5 °C / 91 °F, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily low 24.3 °C / 76 °F, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 10 mph.

    Against: wet days 8.6 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 59%.

  • May · good

    In its favour: average daily high 29.6 °C / 85 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph, average daily low 26.2 °C / 79 °F.

    Against: precipitation 138 mm / 5.4 in, wet days 18.6 days, days with heavy rain 3.8 days, feels like (high) 35.7 °C / 96 °F, share of rain falling in the daytime 49%.

    Also on: Dragon Boat Festival.

  • June · good

    In its favour: average daily high 30 °C / 86 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph, average daily low 27.1 °C / 81 °F.

    Against: precipitation 215 mm / 8.5 in, wet days 22.1 days, days with heavy rain 6 days, feels like (high) 36.1 °C / 97 °F.

    Also on: Dragon Boat Festival.

  • July · good

    In its favour: average daily high 29.6 °C / 85 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph, average daily low 26.7 °C / 80 °F.

    Against: precipitation 280 mm / 11 in, wet days 24.1 days, days with heavy rain 8.3 days, feels like (high) 35.5 °C / 96 °F.

  • August · good

    In its favour: average daily high 29.5 °C / 85 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph, average daily low 26.5 °C / 80 °F.

    Against: precipitation 269 mm / 10.6 in, wet days 24.4 days, days with heavy rain 8 days, feels like (high) 35.5 °C / 96 °F.

  • September · good

    In its favour: average daily high 29.3 °C / 85 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, average daily low 26 °C / 79 °F, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph.

    Against: precipitation 267 mm / 10.5 in, wet days 22.6 days, days with heavy rain 8.2 days, feels like (high) 35 °C / 95 °F, share of rain falling in the daytime 45%.

    Also on: Mid-Autumn Festival.

  • October · good

    In its favour: average daily high 28 °C / 82 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, feels like (high) 31.6 °C / 89 °F, average daily low 24.5 °C / 76 °F, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.

    Against: precipitation 248 mm / 9.8 in, wet days 16.6 days, days with heavy rain 6.7 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 44%.

    Also on: Mid-Autumn Festival.

    Watch out for: National Day Golden Week.

  • November · best

    In its favour: average daily high 26.5 °C / 80 °F, precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, feels like (high) 28.6 °C / 83 °F, days with heavy rain 1 days, wet days 6.5 days, average daily low 22.5 °C / 73 °F, wind (daily max) 22 km/h / 13 mph.

  • December · best

    In its favour: precipitation 21 mm / 0.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily high 24 °C / 75 °F, feels like (high) 24.5 °C / 76 °F, average daily low 19.6 °C / 67 °F, wind (daily max) 22 km/h / 14 mph.

An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Jade Dragon Mountain, 1370 km away.

Weather averages

Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Feels like (high) 23.5 °C25.4 °C28.9 °C32.5 °C35.7 °C36.1 °C35.5 °C35.5 °C35 °C31.6 °C28.6 °C24.5 °C
Days with heavy rain 0.2 days0.2 days0.2 days0.8 days3.8 days6 days8.3 days8 days8.2 days6.7 days1 days0.3 days
Time rain usually falls 8 am1 pm4 pm3 pm1 pm4 am4 am3 am2 pm3 pm4 pm9 am
Sunshine per day 9.1 h9.6 h10.8 h11.2 h11 h10.4 h9.9 h9.5 h9 h9 h9.9 h9.4 h
Relative humidity 79%82%84%85%84%84%84%85%83%81%79%77%

Sea temperature

Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sea temperature 2022–202523.8 °C24.1 °C25.3 °C27.8 °C30 °C30.8 °C30 °C29.6 °C30 °C29 °C26.9 °C25.1 °C
Sea temperature (daily max) 2022–202524 °C24.3 °C25.5 °C28 °C30.2 °C31.1 °C30.2 °C29.8 °C30.3 °C29.2 °C27 °C25.3 °C
  • Very cold 10 °C or less
  • Cold 10 to 15 °C
  • Cool 15 to 20 °C
  • Comfortable 20 to 25 °C
  • Warm 25 to 28 °C
  • Very warm over 28 °C

The words describe how the water feels to swim in. They are ours, not an official standard.

Air quality

Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–202516.6 µg/m³13.3 µg/m³15.8 µg/m³16.7 µg/m³10.4 µg/m³10.9 µg/m³8.9 µg/m³10.4 µg/m³10.6 µg/m³11.7 µg/m³13.8 µg/m³15.8 µg/m³
Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–202522.9 µg/m³19.1 µg/m³22.6 µg/m³23.1 µg/m³15.3 µg/m³16.4 µg/m³14.1 µg/m³16 µg/m³16.8 µg/m³16.9 µg/m³19.7 µg/m³21.8 µg/m³
  • Good 15 µg/m³ or less
  • Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
  • Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
  • Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
  • Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
  • Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³

Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.

Events and seasons

What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.

Reasons to go

  • Dragon Boat Festival

    May and June, dates vary from year to year

  • Mid-Autumn Festival

    September and October, dates vary from year to year

Worth knowing before you go

  • Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) crowds

    January and February, dates vary from year to year

  • National Day Golden Week

    1–7 October

Other places in China

Compare places month by month on the travel calendar

Monthly averages over 2006–2025, unless stated otherwise.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC-BY 4.0), generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information (ERA5). City data from GeoNames (CC-BY 4.0). Air quality from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and sea temperature from Météo-France / Copernicus Marine, both via Open-Meteo.com. Coastline from Natural Earth. Ski areas from OpenSkiMap.org, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Skimap.org. World Heritage sites from Wikidata (CC0), from the World Heritage List © UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Readership from Wikimedia pageview data (CC0). Destination classification derived from English Wikivoyage, © Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).