Last updated: May 3, 2025
In Chengbei, China, staying aware of the UV Index is essential for protecting your skin and overall health. Understanding UV levels can significantly reduce the risks of sunburn and long-term skin damage, making it crucial to track daily fluctuations. With a Cfa climate characterized by hot summers, residents and visitors alike should be particularly cautious during peak hours when the UV Index soars to 12 around midday. This level of exposure calls for proactive measures, such as wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, to enjoy the sun safely while preserving your skin's well-being.
At sunrise, the UV Index begins at a gentle 2 by 07:00, but as the sun rises higher, the intensity quickly escalates. By 09:00, it reaches a moderate 7, signaling outdoor enthusiasts to apply sunscreen. The peak comes at 11:00 and 12:00, where the index peaks at a striking 12, indicating very high levels of UV radiation. As the afternoon progresses, the index gradually decreases, dipping to 8 by 14:00 and further dropping to 5 by 15:00. In the late afternoon and evening, the UV Index retreats to 3 by 16:00, finally settling at 1 by 17:00 and fading to 0 after 19:00. This daily cycle highlights the importance of sun safety during those peak hours!
| Time | UVI | Category | Time to Burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 2 | low | 45 min |
| 08:00 | 4 | moderate | 30 min |
| 09:00 | 7 | high | 25 min |
| 10:00 | 10 | very high | 15 min |
| 11:00 | 12 | extreme | 10 min |
| 12:00 | 12 | extreme | 10 min |
| 13:00 | 11 | extreme | 10 min |
| 14:00 | 8 | very high | 15 min |
| 15:00 | 5 | moderate | 30 min |
| 16:00 | 3 | moderate | 30 min |
| 17:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 18:00 | 1 | low | 45 min |
| 19:00 | 0 | low | 45 min |
Throughout the year, UV index levels fluctuate significantly, with high-risk months typically spanning from February to September. During this period, the UV index reaches extreme levels of 11-12, creating a burn time of just 10 minutes, particularly from April to August. Notably, March and October also present very high UV indexes (10 and 8 respectively), where burn times decrease to 15 minutes. To ensure safety, visitors and residents are advised to limit sun exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and to use broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF, wear protective clothing, and seek shade whenever possible during these months. In contrast, from November to January, the risk is lower with UV indexes ranging from 5 to 7, allowing for longer exposure times without significant risk.
UV Risk Categories
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing UVI | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Chengdu UVI | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Shanghai UVI | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Chengbei | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| Guangzhou UVI | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Shenzhen UVI | 7 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 |