Hangzhou Weather: Temperature, Best Time to Visit & More

Hangzhou weather is different from Singapore weather. Hangzhou has four seasons and the difference between January and July can be around 25°C. This guide tells you what Hangzhou weather feels like, which months are good to plan for, what to pack, and more.

What Hangzhou's Climate Is Really Like?

Hangzhou is located on the Qiantang River, 150 km southwest of Shanghai, in a humid subtropical area. There are four things that affect a visit to Hangzhou.

• Rain occurs throughout the year with about 1,440 mm of rain over 147 days. June alone has around 221 mm of rain.
• Summers are long, hot and humid. People who live in Hangzhou say it is one of the cities in China and the weather records support that.
• Winters are short but wet. Most houses do not have heating so 5°C inside can feel much colder than 5°C outside.
• Spring and autumn are short cool. The main reason many tourists visit.

Another factor to consider is the typhoon season, which runs from July to September and sometimes goes into October. Hangzhou is enough from the coast that a direct hit from a typhoon is rare, but the outer parts of the storm still cause heavy rain and flight delays.

Monthly Averages in Hangzhou

What Is The Best Time to Visit Hangzhou?

If you are a traveller flying from Singapore, the best time to visit Hangzhou depends on three priorities: weather that is comfortable for walking, fewer rainy days, and scenery that lives up to West Lake’s reputation.

Overall, September to mid‑November, which is autumn, is the top choice, while April is a fantastic runner‑up. These two periods strike the balance between mild temperatures, lower humidity and beautiful natural views. Each period has its own trade‑offs with crowds and pricing.

Hangzhou Weather in Spring (March to May)

Spring arrives late, and Spring moves quickly. By mid-March, the camellias are out. The lake remains misty each morning. The crowds have not yet arrived.

Why spring works

• Comfortable walking weather for the lakeside and the tea hills.
• Blossom, tea harvest and green terraces make the photos easy.
• Fewer visitors than autumn, especially in March.

Where it falls short

• Rain is frequent and hard to predict, so keep plans flexible.
• Humidity climbs quickly from May onwards.

Pack: T-shirts, one light jumper, a packable rain jacket, and shoes you do not mind getting wet.

Hangzhou Weather in March

7°C to 16°C, with around 15 rain days. Bring a light jacket for evenings and expect drizzle rather than downpours. Magnolias open late in the month along the Su and Bai causeways.

Hangzhou Weather in April

12°C to 22°C and the finest spring month. This is pre-Qingming tea season, when Longjing is picked by hand in Meijiawu and the village smells of roasted leaves. The Qingming holiday in early April brings domestic crowds for a few days, so book hotels ahead if you land in that window.

Hangzhou Weather in May

17°C to 27°C. The first properly sticky days arrive, afternoon thunderstorms become routine, and young lotus leaves start showing on the lake. By late May it already feels like summer.

Hangzhou Weather in Summer (June to August)

Summer is not a warm season here. Summer in Hangzhou feels like a blanket. Hangzhou sits in a basin and the heat island effect is strong. Summer has no sea breeze to cool it down. Summer feels heavier than Singapore even when the temperature is the same.

Why summer works

• Long daylight hours and the lake at full bloom.
• Hotel rates dip outside domestic holiday periods.
• Indoor sights, museums and tea houses are comfortably air conditioned.

Where it falls short

• Heat exhaustion is a real risk between 11am and 4pm.
• Typhoon alerts can cancel trains and flights at short notice.
• Haze and humidity flatten distant views from the pagodas.

Pack: Loose linen or cotton, a small umbrella for sun and rain, a refillable bottle, and one long-sleeved layer for icy shopping malls.

Hangzhou Weather in June

21°C to 29°C, and the wettest month at 221 mm. The plum rain season starts around mid-June and runs into early July, bringing days of steady drizzle rather than short storms. Laundry does not dry, and the lake views turn soft and grey.

Hangzhou Weather in July

25°C to 34°C on average, with 37°C to 38°C common and 41°C recorded in both 2013 and 2017. Nights rarely drop below 25°C, so sleep depends on air conditioning.

Hangzhou Weather in August

25°C to 33°C and the peak of typhoon watch. Storms are short but violent. The lotus beds at West Lake are at their best, which is some compensation for the heat.

Hangzhou Weather in Autumn (September to November)

This is the season travellers can chase. The humidity falls and the light becomes pure. The city looks exactly as it appears in the photographs.

One autumn curiosity worth timing is the Qiantang bore. It is a wall of water that moves up the estuary around the day of the eighth lunar month. This usually falls in September or early October. The classic viewing spot is Yanguan in Haining, which's an hour from the city.

Why autumn works

• Near perfect temperatures with low humidity.
• The best visibility of the year for lake and city views.
• Osmanthus, red maples and clear skies in one trip.

Where it falls short

• Peak season pricing and heavy crowds through Golden Week.
• Late November evenings get cold fast after sunset.

Pack: Light layers, a trench or denim jacket, and one warmer piece for November mornings.

Hangzhou Weather in September

21°C to 29°C. The first half still feels like summer, then the Mid-Autumn Festival passes and temperatures fall away. Osmanthus starts blooming late in the month, and Manjuelong Village fills with the scent.

Hangzhou Weather in October

15°C to 24°C, only about nine rain days, and the most comfortable conditions of the year. Walk the Su Causeway in the morning, take the boat across in the afternoon. Note that 1 to 7 October is National Day Golden Week, when every hotel rate jumps.

Hangzhou Weather in November

9°C to 18°C. Mornings need a coat, afternoons are mild, and the lake is quiet again. Late November brings the first genuinely cold air.

Hangzhou Weather in Winter (December to February)

The cold feels wet of dry and buildings do not have heating in the usual way. It's recommended to check that your booking has heating and ideally that your booking has warming in the bathroom.

Why winter works

• The lowest hotel and flight prices of the year outside the New Year holiday.
• Bare branches, mist and quiet causeways suit photography.
• Hot springs and tea houses are at their most appealing.

Where it falls short

• Damp cold that penetrates clothing.
• Very limited sunshine and short days.
• New Year week is crowded and expensive.

Pack: Thermal base layer, wool jumper, a proper down jacket with a hood, gloves, and a scarf.

Hangzhou Weather in November

December. 3°C to 12°C. Days are short and often overcast, with the occasional bright, cold afternoon that makes the lake look silver.

Hangzhou Weather in November

January. 1°C to 9°C, the coldest month. A severe cold snap took the city to minus 8°C in January 2016. Snowfall is uncommon and usually light, but once every few winters the lake edges freeze and the causeways get a proper dusting, which is when local photographers come out.

Hangzhou Weather in November

February. 3°C to 11°C. Chinese New Year usually falls in this month, bringing lanterns, temple fairs and the year's busiest domestic travel period.

When Should You Visit Hangzhou?

If you have one window to travel, go for late September through mid-November. April is a second option. Stay away from the week of October and the week of Chinese New Year, unless you really want to experience the celebrations, because prices will be at their highest during those times.

Families who need to match their trip with Singapore’s school holidays can consider June. It works well if you begin early in the morning, take a break midday, and spend the afternoons at museums, tea houses or on boat rides.