Last updated: May 3, 2025
Awareness of the UV Index is crucial for residents and visitors of Xiaocun, China, where the climate falls within the Cfa zone, bringing warm summers with considerable sun exposure. Understanding UV levels helps in preventing sunburn and protecting your skin health, as indicated by peak UV Index readings reaching a striking 12 during midday hours. Such high levels can pose significant risks if proper precautions aren’t taken. It's important to stay informed about these varying UV levels throughout the day to enjoy the sunshine safely, especially between 10 AM and 2 PM when the sun is at its strongest.
The UV Index provides a vital insight into sun exposure throughout the day, peaking during the late morning to early afternoon hours. At 07:00, it starts off low at 2, but by 08:00, it rises to 4, indicating increasing sun intensity. The real surge happens between 09:00 and 12:00, where it climbs dramatically to a maximum of 12 at 11:00 and 12:00. As the sun begins to dip after 13:00, the index gradually decreases to 11 at 1 PM and gently tapers off to 9 at 2 PM. By 3 PM, it continues to decline to 6, and by the evening, it reaches a minimal 1 at both 5 PM and 6 PM, finally falling to 0 by 7 PM. This hourly breakdown urges us to protect our skin during the peak hours, especially when the index hits its zenith.
| 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 | 9 | very high | 15 min |
| 15:00 | 6 | high | 25 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 |
As the seasons change, so do the UV levels, with high-risk months peaking from March to September, where the UV Index consistently reaches extreme levels of 11 to 13. January starts with a high UV Index of 6, which increases to a very high 8 in February, then sharply escalates to extreme values for the following months. During the peak summer months of June, July, and August, a UV Index of 13 indicates a burn time of just 10 minutes. As autumn begins, UV levels gradually decrease but remain significant, dropping to 9 in October. To ensure safety, it is advised that visitors and residents take precautions during high UV periods by wearing sunscreen, protective clothing, and seeking shade during peak hours, particularly from March through September. In contrast, burn times of 25 minutes in January, November, and December suggest relatively lower UV risks during those months.
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 |
| Xiaocun | 6 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| 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 |