On the other hand, the winters can be bitterly cold, especially with the strong winds that often pass through the city.  Winter officially starts on November 15th and goes through to March 15th the following year, during which time, most of the buildings will be heated centrally.  January and February are usually the coldest months.

The other important fact that sometimes surprises visitors is the dryness in Beijing, especially during the winter.  Bring lots of moisturiser!