Xining vs Zhongwei (Shapotou): which is sunnier?
🇨🇳 China vs 🇨🇳 China · 300 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Zhongwei (Shapotou) is the sunnier overall: about 2,978 hours of sunshine a year to Xining's 2,548. Zhongwei (Shapotou) has the higher Sunshine Score in 8 of 12 months; the other 4 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Xining | Zhongwei (Shapotou) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,548 | 2,978 |
| Sunniest month | May (83/100) | April (95/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 2/100 | 2/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 76/100 | 86/100 |
| Rain / year | 504 mm | 226 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 8 (very high) | 9 (very high) |
Xining vs Zhongwei (Shapotou) month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xining | Zhongwei (Shapotou) | Xining | Zhongwei (Shapotou) | Xining | Zhongwei (Shapotou) | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 3° | 1° | 3 | 2 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 7° | 5° | 3 | 3 |
| March | 31 | 40 | 12° | 13° | 9 | 5 |
| April | 75 | 95 | 18° | 20° | 23 | 11 |
| May | 83 | 92 | 22° | 26° | 61 | 23 |
| June | 79 | 90 | 25° | 31° | 80 | 35 |
| July | 76 | 80 | 27° | 33° | 99 | 42 |
| August | 74 | 88 | 26° | 31° | 108 | 48 |
| September | 79 | 90 | 21° | 25° | 83 | 35 |
| October | 52 | 78 | 15° | 18° | 27 | 16 |
| November | 8 | 8 | 9° | 9° | 6 | 5 |
| December | 0 | 0 | 4° | 2° | 2 | 1 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Zhongwei (Shapotou) · Apr Zhongwei (Shapotou) · May Zhongwei (Shapotou) · Jun Zhongwei (Shapotou) · Jul Zhongwei (Shapotou) · Aug Zhongwei (Shapotou) · Sep Zhongwei (Shapotou) · Oct Zhongwei (Shapotou) · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Xining averages 2/100, Zhongwei (Shapotou) 2/100. Xining is the warmer, around 6°C daytime highs vs 4°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Zhongwei (Shapotou) (average score 76/100 vs 63). Zhongwei (Shapotou) is the warmer, around 20°C daytime highs vs 17°C.
- June–August: Zhongwei (Shapotou) (average score 86/100 vs 76). Zhongwei (Shapotou) is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 26°C.
- September–October: Zhongwei (Shapotou) (average score 84/100 vs 66). Zhongwei (Shapotou) is the warmer, around 22°C daytime highs vs 18°C.
Full month-by-month guides: Xining weather by month · Zhongwei (Shapotou) weather by month · Best time to visit China.
More comparisons: Xining vs Lanzhou (Yongdeng) · Xining vs Yinchuan · Xining vs Jiayuguan · Zhongwei (Shapotou) vs Lanzhou (Yongdeng) · Zhongwei (Shapotou) vs Yinchuan · Zhongwei (Shapotou) vs Wuhai · all head-to-heads