Harbin or Ulaanbaatar in January?
On climate data, Harbin comes out ahead overall in January. See the per-criterion details below.
HarbinPhoto: Tracy Hunter · CC BY 2.0
UlaanbaatarPhoto: Ulaanbaatar City Tourism Department · CC BY-SA 4.0Key figures in January
| Criterion | Harbin | Ulaanbaatar |
|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | -13 °C | -15 °C |
| Average daily low | -23 °C | -25 °C |
| Rainy days | 1 rainy day (est.) | 0 rainy days (est.) ★ |
| Sun | 3 h/day ★ | 2 h/day |
| Humidity | 87 % | 90 % |
Winner by travel type
Trade-offs
- Harbin is about 2 °C warmer by day.
Harbin or Ulaanbaatar in January: the short answer
In January, Harbin comes out ahead on the overall climate score (Harbin 46/100 vs Ulaanbaatar 45/100). That is a snapshot of one month, though — which one truly fits depends on what you want from the trip, so the breakdown below goes criterion by criterion.
This comparison focuses on January as a representative month for the pair; for any other month, use each destination's month-by-month pages. Across the whole year Harbin averages a climate score of 61/100, Ulaanbaatar 61/100. Both profiles below are historical monthly averages, not a forecast.
Weather in January, side by side
The average daily high is about -13 °C in Harbin and -15 °C in Ulaanbaatar — warmer in Harbin. Average daily lows are around -23 °C versus -25 °C.
On rain, Harbin sees about 1 rainy days in January and Ulaanbaatar about 0 — drier in Ulaanbaatar. Harbin gets more sunshine (3 vs 2 hours a day).
Rain and sun across the year
Over a full year Harbin records roughly 83 rainy days and Ulaanbaatar about 59 — the drier of the two overall is Ulaanbaatar. At their sunniest, Harbin reaches about 7 hours of sun a day (June) and Ulaanbaatar about 8 (June). If dependable dry, sunny weather is your top priority, weigh these annual totals alongside the single month above.
Best time to visit each
Climatically, Harbin is at its best in April, May, June and September, while Ulaanbaatar peaks in May, June, July and August. If your dates are fixed, pick the destination whose strong season overlaps them; if you are flexible, plan around these windows.
Which suits which kind of trip
Based on the January scores for each travel style:
City breaks: Harbin scores higher in January (Harbin 49 vs Ulaanbaatar 48).
Active & hiking: Harbin scores higher in January (Harbin 45 vs Ulaanbaatar 43).
Family: Harbin scores higher in January (Harbin 45 vs Ulaanbaatar 43).
Verdict: which should you pick?
In January, Harbin leads across every scored category here. Choose using the January values and travel-style scores above. The rounded annual overall scores are also tied (61/100). A higher annual score therefore cannot decide the choice. Use the monthly values for your actual travel dates.