Marco Polo once said: Zhangye was an international trade market. Nowadays, it has turned into a tourism city that attracts many people. June to September are the best time to travel to Zhangye.
Every June and July are the best time to visit Zhangye National Geopark. During the rainy season, the water can cool you from the summer heat and add moisture to the air.
It is best to visit in the morning and at dusk, especially at sunset, when the colours change continuously, showing yellow and red layers covered by a light grey layer.
From September to November are the best time to visit the Matisi Temple and enjoy the autumn view of the Qilian Mountain.
Zhangye Climate
Zhangye has a cold desert climate with very warm summers and cold and very dry winters. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −9.2 °C in January to 21.5 °C in July. The mean annual temperature is 7.31 °C, while annual rainfall is 130 mm, almost all of which falls from May to September. In winter are dry and cold.
Annual Temperature of the Year/℃ ( High-Low )
| Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April. | May. | June. |
| 2/-14 |
-1/-13 | 15/-2 | 17/2 | 25/19 | 30/14 |
| July. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec |
| 31/17 | 30/14 | 22/6 |
16/0 | 6/-10 | 3/-16 |
