December is deep winter: frosty mornings, bright cold days, and very little rain. The old towns are quiet outside the New Year holiday, and Jade Dragon is usually visible. It is a good month for photography and low prices, if you can handle the cold.
Best for
- Crisp mountain views
- Low prices and quiet lanes
- Winter photography
- Hot springs and long lunches
Skip if
You dislike cold rooms or short daylight.
Weather and what it feels like
December highs average 13°C, with lows near -2°C. The air is dry and the sky is often clear. Frost is common, and the old town's shaded lanes can stay icy until midday.
The mountain is sharp and white. Wind can close the Glacier Park cableway, and snow can fall in the basin, though it rarely settles for long. Daylight is short, with sunset around 6:20pm.
Crowds and prices
This is low season. Rooms are cheap, the lanes are quiet, and the mountain is easier to book. Some restaurants and shops reduce hours, and village guesthouses may close. Check before booking, especially in Baisha.
The New Year holiday brings a short domestic surge around January 1. Book transport and rooms if you are travelling then. Otherwise, December is one of the calmest months.
What to do
Go for the mountain on a clear day, walk the old towns in the afternoon sun, and spend evenings in tea houses or at a Naxi music concert. Hot springs outside the basin are a good cold-weather excursion.
Pack a down jacket, hat, gloves, and warm shoes. Check heating before booking a courtyard room. The altitude briefing and mountain planner are useful for winter conditions.
Keep planning
04 linksField desk / direct line
Is December the right month for you?
Tell the field desk what you want from the trip — mountain views, fewer crowds, dry trails, or a family pace — and we will tell you whether this month fits.
Independent advice. No bookings, no commissions, no visa service.