Shangri-La Weather in January
Season: Winter
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| Local People of Shangri-La |
January is the coldest month of the year in Shangri-La. Going to Shangri-La this month, you will feel chilly and experience extremely huge temperature differences between day and night. Specifically, when the sun is shining, the temperature can reach about 5-10°C (41-50°F); while in the morning and at night, the temperature may drop to around -10°C (14°F). January belongs to the dry season and is one of the driest months. With the low temperature, it may snow instead of rain, and the average snowy days are only about 5. The low precipitation means many sunny days and long sunshine hours but leads to dry air.
Moreover, the daylight time is relatively short this month, and some attractions may adjust their opening hours, so you are advised to make a plan in advance.
January is the slack season in Shangri-La, when hotels and flight tickets are cheap and the number of tourists is small. During this period, you don’t need to queue up no matter you go to scenic spots or restaurants. However, be aware that late January to early February, 2025 belongs to the holiday of Chinese New Year, when hotels and restaurants will be more expensive and the traffic be busier than usual.
See more about Yunnan Weather in January.
Averages for Shangri-La Weather in January
High Temperature: 6°C (43°F)
Low Temperature: -9°C (16°F)
Precipitation: 8 mm in 5 days
Humidity: 58%
Sunrise: 08:08 ~ 08:12
Sunset: 18:35 ~ 18:59
Daylight Hours: 10.23 ~ 10.50 h
Sunshine Hours: 7 h
Packing List for Shangri-La Trip in January
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Upper: Shangri-La weather is chilly this month, so, when going out for a visit, you may need to wear more layers of warm clothes. For the first layer, you can prepare thermal shirts or close-fitting wool sweaters; for the second layer, pack sweaters or thick hoodies; and for the outer layer, you are recommended to bring padded overcoats, downcoats, or parkas. Bottoms: In the daytime, you can wear thermal pants plus thick jeans or sweatpants. But if you plan to go out in the early morning or at night, or go to high-altitude spots, you may need to wear padded trousers or fleece outdoor pants. Shoes: Warm and comfortable shoes should be prepared for your Shangri-La trip. Besides, you’d better bring waterproof ones to prevent getting wet on possible snowy days. Therefore, hiking shoes or boots and leather thick casual shoes would be the best choices for you. Moreover, to keep warm, you can also bring several pairs of thick stocks. Others: To protect you from the cold wind, hats, scarves, and gloves are necessary. Besides, UV rays are strong in Shangri-La, so you are advised to wear sunglasses and apply sunscreen. It’s also important to keep hydrated in January, and you should pack potable water bottles and moisturizers.Top Things to Do in Shangri-La in January
Travel Recommendation Rate: 
In winter, Pudacuo National Forest Park presents special beauty: there are vast and quiet yellow grasslands, semi-frozen Bita Lake and Shudu Lake sparkling under the sunshine, white freezing fog, and cute squirrels, yaks, and horses. The most recommended way to visit Potatso National Forest Park is to take time to hike along the plank roads to enjoy the quiet and beautiful view and take some photos. On snowy days, you will see an even more beautiful white world.
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| Potatso National Park in January |
Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province, where you can see typical Tibetan architecture, and feel the solemnity and sacredness of Tibetan Buddhism. If time permits, go there in the morning to enjoy the extremely beautiful view of Songzanlin Monastery standing in the morning mist. Besides, every year from November 26 to 29 of the Tibetan calendar, Songzanlin Monastery celebrates the Gedong Festival, a grand festival of Tibetan Buddhism. According to the Gregorian calendar, it falls from January 25 to 28 in 2025. During this period, you will see performers wearing masks resembling animal heads and dancing special dances to music.
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| Songzanlin Monastery in January |
The climate of Shangri-La in January is sunny and less cloudy, enabling you to clearly see the magnificent Meili Snow Mountain. Moreover, this month, the possibility to see the spectacular view that the golden sunshine pouring down on the white snowy peaks when the sun rises is high. You are advised to check the weather forest in advance and find a sunny day first. Then, go to the Feilai Temple, where you can have a panoramic view of Meili Snow Mountain, before sunrise to wait for the magnificent view.
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| View of Meili Snow Mountain from the Feilai Temple |
Other Travel Recommendations
(1) Many stores in Shangri-La offer Tibetan costumes rental service. If you are interested, you can rent a whole suit and take some memorable photos in it.
(2) Yak hot pot, a famous local food in Shangri-La, is suitable for cold January.
7-Day Shangri-La Weather Forecast
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- Last updated on Dec. 23, 2024 by Demi Li -