Zhangjiajie Weather in January

Season: winter
Weather Overview: coldest time of the year, many sunny days, possible snowfall

Generally, Zhangjiajie weather in January is cold compared with other months. As for precipitation, there are not too many wet days and about half of the month are sunny. If it rains, it is often light rain and doesn't influence your travel too much. Sometimes, it snows, making an amazing white fairyland; but the snowfall may disrupt the normal opening of some attractions, so check weather forecast before departure.
 Not really. Although January is the coldest time of the year in Zhangjiajie, the temperature rarely drops below 0 degrees Celsius (32℉). In details, the daytime temperature fluctuates around 5 - 15℃ (41 - 59℉) and the nighttime temperature averages at 2℃ (35.6℉). But, due to high humidity in January, the perceived temperature is lower than the actual. Tourists from warmer areas may not be accustomed to such cold weather. If you persist going there in January, take thick winter clothes to keep warm.
 No, it occasionally snows in Zhangjiajie in January. On average, Zhangjiajie has 4 snowfall days. It is often light or moderate snow. On high mountains, heavy snow sometimes happens. However, as the temperature often maintains above 0℃ (32℉), even if it snows, it usually melts in 2 - 3 days. If you want to see the snow scenery in Zhangjiajie, remember to check snow forecast in advance.

Snow Scenery in Zhangjiajie in January

 This month, Zhangjiajie gets dark a little early, at around 6 pm. Tourists who go to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park or Tianmen Mountain should better not stay too late on mountains and come down in time for their safety.

 1. Less Tourists in Low Travel Season: January is Zhangjiajie's low travel season when receives much fewer tourists. If you go to Zhangjiajie in January 2026, you don't have to queue up for hours to visit popular attractions and experience thrilling programs.

2. Lower Travel Cost: In this off-season, flight tickets are cheap. Similarly, you spend less in hotels in January than in peak season.

3. In January, it possibly snows. After snowfall, you can appreciate breath-taking snow view.

4. Lively Festival Atmosphere: Chinese New Year usually falls in January or February. Around the Chinese New Year, various activities are held in attractions like Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. You can appreciate traditional dragon dance, Tujia hand-waving dance and folk song, and taste local festive food.

Spring Festival Atmosphere on Zhangjiajie's Streets

 1. Cold Climate: Zhangjiajie’s January is featured by coldness and high humidity.

2. Bleak Scenery: In January, the winter time, many trees in Zhangjiajie are bare, and the scenery is not as beautiful as in other seasons.

3. Short Daytime: As Zhangjiajie gets dark early in January, visitors have shorter daytime for traveling. As a result, one needs to spend more days in Zhangjiajie or skip some scenic spots.

4. Possible Sold-out Flight/ Train Tickets: If you travel there around Chinese New Year, the price of flight tickets and hotel prices are higher and flight and train tickets may be sold out quickly. Thus, remember to make reservations in advance.
 Basically, take enough thick clothes to keep warm.

For the upper, you need a down jacket or a 3-in-1 windbreaker matched with a sweater and a thermal underwear. For the lower, you can wear thick woolen winter pants and a pair of leggings or long johns inside. To keep your feet warm, long woolen socks and snow shoes are necessary. You can also substitute the snow shoes for winter hiking shoes.
 1. Gloves, scarf, and hat helping resist the strong wind on mountains.
2. Hiking pole and crampons with which you can walk steadily on slippery road after snow, especially if you want to hike on Tianmen Mountain or in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
3. Cold Medicine: The temperature difference between day and night makes it easy to catch a cold, you can take some cold medications just in case. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain, and Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon are must-visit attractions whenever you come to Zhangjiajie. But, if possible, here we suggest you pick a day after snowfall as the hard rime and snow view make these places more charming than on the common winter days. For example, the mountains then are covered with white snow; the initially bare branches are wrapped by a layer of crystal ice, looking like an ice and snow fairytale world.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in January

Second, in this winter month, you can go to Seven Star Mountain Ski Resort to enjoy skiing. In the Resort, there are different ski runs for beginners to professional skiers. In addition, snow entertainment programs like snow motors and snow karts are very interesting.

Seven Star Mountain Ski Resort

Further Reading: Top 10 Things to Do in Zhangjiajie1. Some places in the attractions may be temporarily closed for travelers’ safety because of snowfall, such as the 999 staircase and glass walkway on Tianmen Mountain.
2. Some homestays in Zhangjiajie close in winter. It is recommended to contact the homestay to confirm it before making a reservation.

Jan	Temperature		Sunrise / Sunset	Humi- dity (%)
	High	Low
1	10.2°C / 50.4°F	3.1°C / 37.6°F	07:32 / 17:51	74
2	10°C / 50°F	3°C / 37.4°F	07:33 / 17:52	71
3	9.9°C / 49.8°F	3°C / 37.4°F	07:33 / 17:53	69
4	9.7°C / 49.5°F	2.9°C / 37.2°F	07:33 / 17:54	91
5	9.6°C / 49.3°F	2.8°C / 37°F	07:33 / 17:54	95
6	9.4°C / 48.9°F	2.8°C / 37°F	07:33 / 17:55	95
7	9.3°C / 48.7°F	2.7°C / 36.9°F	07:33 / 17:56	92
8	9.2°C / 48.6°F	2.7°C / 36.9°F	07:33 / 17:57	83
9	9.1°C / 48.4°F	2.6°C / 36.7°F	07:33 / 17:57	91
10	9.1°C / 48.4°F	2.6°C / 36.7°F	07:34 / 17:58	92
11	9°C / 48.2°F	2.5°C / 36.5°F	07:34 / 17:59	89
12	8.9°C / 48°F	2.5°C / 36.5°F	07:34 / 18:00	86
13	8.9°C / 48°F	2.4°C / 36.3°F	07:33 / 18:01	72
14	8.9°C / 48°F	2.4°C / 36.3°F	07:33 / 18:01	68
15	8.9°C / 48°F	2.4°C / 36.3°F	07:33 / 18:02	66
16	8.9°C / 48°F	2.3°C / 36.1°F	07:33 / 18:03	62
17	8.9°C / 48°F	2.3°C / 36.1°F	07:33 / 18:04	61
18	9°C / 48.2°F	2.3°C / 36.1°F	07:33 / 18:05	79
19	9°C / 48.2°F	2.3°C / 36.1°F	07:33 / 18:05	67
20	9.1°C / 48.4°F	2.3°C / 36.1°F	07:32 / 18:06	44
21	9.1°C / 48.4°F	2.3°C / 36.1°F	07:32 / 18:07	43
22	9.2°C / 48.6°F	2.3°C / 36.1°F	07:32 / 18:08	52
23	9.3°C / 48.7°F	2.4°C / 36.3°F	07:31 / 18:09	49
24	9.4°C / 48.9°F	2.4°C / 36.3°F	07:31 / 18:10	61
25	9.5°C / 49.1°F	2.5°C / 36.5°F	07:31 / 18:10	65
26	9.6°C / 49.3°F	2.5°C / 36.5°F	07:30 / 18:11	64
27	9.7°C / 49.5°F	2.6°C / 36.7°F	07:30 / 18:12	54
28	9.8°C / 49.6°F	2.6°C / 36.7°F	07:29 / 18:13	78
29	9.9°C / 49.8°F	2.7°C / 36.9°F	07:29 / 18:14	93
30	10.1°C / 50.5°F	2.8°C / 37°F	07:28 / 18:15	69
31	10.2°C / 50.4°F	2.9°C / 37.2°F	07:28 / 18:15	80

 

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