canIswim

What wetsuit do you need in China?

The one suit that covers most of the swimming season, for 22 coastal cities in China.

City Coldest Warmest One suit for the season
Shenzhen 17.7°C Jan 29.5°C Jul nothing
Qingdao 5.9°C Feb 27.4°C Aug nothing
Dalian 4.3°C Feb 25.9°C Aug nothing
Xiamen 14.9°C Feb 28.5°C Aug nothing
Shantou 16.3°C Feb 28.5°C Jul nothing
Haikou 20.1°C Feb 29.7°C Jul nothing
Wenzhou 10.9°C Feb 29.4°C Aug nothing
Yantai 3.6°C Feb 25.3°C Aug nothing
Taizhou 9.6°C Feb 28.9°C Aug nothing
Weihai 3.8°C Feb 25.7°C Aug nothing
Qinhuangdao 0.8°C Feb 26.5°C Aug nothing
Rizhao 5.7°C Feb 27.9°C Aug nothing
Yingkou -1.1°C Jan 27.0°C Aug nothing
Beihai 19.1°C Jan 30.9°C Jul nothing
Shanwei 18.8°C Feb 29.5°C Jul nothing
Hepu 18.3°C Jan 31.0°C Jul nothing
Laizhou 1.9°C Feb 28.1°C Aug nothing
Yatou 3.8°C Feb 25.5°C Aug nothing
Dengzhou 3.8°C Feb 25.1°C Aug nothing
Lüshun 4.5°C Feb 25.5°C Aug nothing
Huilong 7.7°C Feb 28.4°C Aug nothing
Lingao 20.6°C Feb 30.7°C Jul nothing

Thicknesses above are for swimming. Surfing the same water wants a step more — most of a session is spent sitting still in the wind rather than moving and immersed. Each city page gives both, along with when you need boots, gloves and a hood.

Boots below 14°C, gloves below 12°C, a hood below 10°C. Where the numbers come from