Short answer: Guangzhou never gets cold enough to matter and never gets desert-hot either. The average low stays around 10°C (50°F) even in January, and the average high tops out near 34°C (93°F) in July and August. Temperature is rarely your problem. Rain is. April through September is the wet season, June is the wettest month at 347 mm, and July to September is also typhoon season. The dry, comfortable window is October to December, with October and November the sweet spot.
The numbers month by month
All figures below are 1992-2021 climate normals from the Baiyun Airport station about 30 km north of the city centre, not a forecast. Temperature is mild every month. The swing that actually shapes a trip is rainfall.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain (mm) | Humidity | Verdict for visitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°C | 10°C | 52.9 | 66% | Cool and dry. Good for walking, just bring a light layer. |
| February | 20°C | 12°C | 59.8 | 72% | Dry, but a late-winter humidity surge makes walls and floors damp. |
| March | 23°C | 15°C | 99.6 | 77% | Warming and comfortable; rain starts to climb. |
| April | 27°C | 20°C | 203.4 | 78% | Wet season begins; showers become a daily thing. |
| May | 30°C | 23°C | 303.0 | 78% | Plum-rain weeks; humid and soggy. |
| June | 32°C | 25°C | 347.0 | 80% | Wettest month. Keep indoor backups in mind. |
| July | 34°C | 26°C | 237.9 | 76% | Hottest and storm-prone; typhoon season opens. |
| August | 34°C | 25°C | 268.2 | 75% | Hottest month tied with July; storms still possible. |
| September | 33°C | 24°C | 202.7 | 72% | Still in typhoon season; heat eases late month. |
| October | 30°C | 21°C | 66.6 | 64% | Dry, warm and clear. The best window opens. |
| November | 26°C | 16°C | 40.9 | 64% | Dry and mild. The single most comfortable month. |
| December | 21°C | 11°C | 39.2 | 62% | Driest month; cooler but bright and pleasant. |
Why temperature is the wrong thing to worry about
Guangzhou sits in a humid subtropical belt. Its coldest month, January, still averages a low near 10°C and a high near 19°C. Its hottest, July and August, average a high near 34°C. That is a smaller yearly swing than almost anywhere in northern China, and it rarely pushes past what a t-shirt and a fan (or a light jacket) cannot handle. The practical takeaway: you will not freeze in winter or bake in summer the way you might elsewhere. What you will fight is moisture.
The real variable: rain and humidity
April to September carries most of the year’s 1,921 mm of rain. May and June are the plum-rain weeks, each with 300 mm-plus. Humidity runs 62 to 80 percent all year and peaks in late spring. February and March bring a late-winter humidity surge where concrete walls and tiled floors turn damp and laundry will not dry; it is a comfort problem, not a temperature one. Then July to September is typhoon season: coastal Guangdong faces a real landfall risk most years, and when a storm tracks close, flights and ferries can be delayed or cancelled. None of that shows up in a temperature table, which is why the raw numbers alone undersell the difference between a good month and a bad one here.
When to go
Best: October to December. October and November are the standouts, with highs of 26 to 30°C, under 70 mm of rain, and humidity down to 64 percent. December is the driest and brightest month, just cooler, with a high near 21°C.
Shoulder: March to May is warming and green but noticeably wetter, and hotel demand in the city rises around its two big trade-fair sessions in spring and autumn. You can still travel well; just expect more showers and busier hotels.
Tougher: June to September. June is the wettest month, July and August the hottest, and July to September carries the storm risk. If you must come then, plan outdoor sights for the early morning and keep indoor options handy.
What to pack by season
Oct to Mar: a light jacket or sweater for evenings, especially December to February; an umbrella for the odd shower; comfortable walking shoes.
Apr to Sep: breathable clothing, a proper rain jacket (not just an umbrella, the wind driven rain gets through), and quick-dry layers. If you travel in July to September, a small backup plan for transport delays is worth having.
The bottom line
Pick Guangzhou for October or November if you can. The temperature is fine in every month, so let rain and humidity make the call: dry and clear beats hot and stormy. If you want the decision framed without the numbers, see our best time to visit Guangzhou guide, and pair either with the Guangzhou travel guide for what to actually do once you are there. For the national picture, our China by month overview and the what to pack for China list by season cover the rest of the country.