Yinchuan has a continental climate with hot summers and cold, dry winters. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the best times to visit: temperatures are comfortable for outdoor sightseeing, the light is good for photography in the Helan Mountains, and dust storms — a real problem in spring — are less frequent by late April.
Summer (June–August) is warm to hot (around 25–30°C in July) but manageable given the low humidity. Winters are cold — January averages around −7°C — and the Helan Mountains can be bleak, though the Western Xia tombs look particularly atmospheric in early snow. There are very few foreign visitors year-round, so any time is fine for avoiding crowds.