Zhangjiakou has two peak seasons that appeal to quite different travelers. Winter — December through March — is the time for skiing in Chongli, when reliable cold and dry conditions produce good snow and the Beijing weekender crowd fills the resorts. Temperatures in the city itself drop well below −10°C; the plateau elevation means the cold is genuine.
Summer, particularly July and August, brings mild temperatures that feel like a relief after the North China Plain. The Grassland Sky Road and the upland scenery around the city are at their most photogenic. Spring and autumn are both pleasant but shorter; autumn in particular offers clear skies, golden grassland, and significantly fewer tourists than the winter ski season.