Does It Snow In China?
China is one of the largest countries in the world which occupies an area of about 3.7 million square miles. Due to its vast territory, with a tremendous difference in altitude, longitude, and latitude, the country has an extremely diverse climate. The climate of China ranges from the alpine in the Tibetan Plateau and subarctic in the far north to tropical in the far south. Snow falls in various parts of China during the winter.
Climate of China
China has a huge territory with varying topography whose climate varies by area. China can be divided into various temperature zones including Qinghai-Tibet plateau temperate, cold temperate, warm-temperate, warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical zones.
Winter in China
Winters in Northern China begin in December and end in March while in places like Tibet winter starts in October and can even last up to June. Winter is usually very cold in many parts of China except various parts in Hainan Island, Macau, and Hong Kong. The southeastern parts of the country have sunny and warm conditions and are an excellent getaway for people living in the colder parts of the country. Winters are frozen, long and snowy in the northeastern parts of China.
Coldest Places in China
There are numerous regions which experience longer and colder winters than the rest of the country. Many areas in the northern parts of China experience subarctic climate which is characterized by cold winter with temperatures going below -40°C. These places remain frozen for over six months per years. Some of these places include:
Harbin
Harbin is the biggest city in Northeastern parts of China and the capital city of Heilongjiang province. Harbin has freezing winters as compared to other Chinese cities, and it is referred to as the "Ice City" due to its great winter recreations and tourism. Other than being famous for its Russian legacy, the region is known for its unique ice sculpture festival during winter. Harbin is also known for its short cool summers and very long winters, which can last for up to six months, and cold weather. The snow season in Harbin can last for about six months with the lowest recorded temperature being -38°C.
Mohe, Heilongjiang
Mohe is situated on the far northwestern parts of Heilongjiang, and it shares a boundary with Zabaykalsky Krai and Amur Oblast. Mohe is one of the few places in China which experience a subarctic climate characterized by short warm summers and long, severe winters. Winter in Mohe starts in mid-October and ends in April. The average temperature in Mohe is below freezing point for 7 months every year. Mohe has a 90-days frost-free period. The extreme temperatures in the city range from 39.3°C to -52°C.
Hulunbuir
Hulunbuir experience very dry, severe winters with the freezing temperature opening up the region's wonderful world of snow and ice. The harsh and long winters are caused by the semi-permanent Siberian high. The annual mean temperature of Hulunbuir is -0.96°C.
