Compared to most places in China, Yunnan is warmer in winter and cooler in summer. In general, October to April is the best time to travel to Yunnan.
However, the best time for you to visit Yunnan depends on your interests and what you hope to experience. Check out our best times advice and see which one suits you most.
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- Best Times for Good Weather
- Best Times for Family Travel
- Best Times for Ethnic Festivals
- The Worst Times
- Guide by Month
The Best Times to Visit Yunnan for Good Weather
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Yunnan for good weather.
Spring (March to May) enjoys pleasant weather, especially if you prefer milder temperatures and enjoy witnessing the region's natural beauty in bloom. Daytime temperatures typically range from 15 to 25°C (59–77°F).
During the autumn months, from September to November, you can expect pleasant and comfortable weather with clear skies. It is also the best season for outdoor activities. Daytime temperatures are about the same as temperatures in spring.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Unforgettable Yunnan
We did not know what to expect as this was as our first trip to China - we are into the outdoors so we picked Yunnan as a destination, as it was knownfor its scenic beauty. We had heard about China’s progress in the past 30 years, but that did not prepare us for the amazing infrastructure, the excellence of telecommunications what is essentially a remote part of China- Imagine perfectly paved mountain roads with not a single pothole and 5G signal even in the most unlikely of places - mountain tops, deep gorges etc . The tour destinations and highlights were amazing. Just when we thought we had reached the height of our tour the next day gave us more jaw dropping sights. We have traveled a lot all over the globe, but we must say this trip gave us the biggest bang for the buck in our experience Our tour organizer, China Highlights was great. - ours was a private tour, just the two of us - the car was comfortable and everything ran like clockwork. Every tour guide we had on each part of our tour deserve special mention: May from Kunming, Scarlett from Dali, Eleanor from Lijiang and Anna from Shangri-La displayed passion, knowledge and dedication to their role. They were motivated good natured, humorous, and anticipated our every need. They were always concerned about our comfort and satisfaction. Our Driver Mr. Wang who drove us from Dali to Shangri-La, was safe and steady. Given the wonderful service that we received from these individuals and from China Highlights, we are already planning our next trip to China within the next few months. China, we love you and wish we had discovered you sooner! more
Apr 2025, John Chang Kheng Choi
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Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la
We booked a 9-day tour of Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la with China Highlights in late March with Leeky. We are very well taken care of by our guides: Lulu in Kunming, Scarlett in Dali, Martin in Lijiang, and Betsy in Shangri-la. All our guides are local people, which is a great advantage for their local knowledge. Be it local history, customs, food and shopping tips. This trip started in Kunming which is a mile high city and ascended higher and higher. Those who are not familiar with high altitude will be better off listening carefully to their advices. Special shout out to Scarlett, our guide in Dali who went out of her way to take care of us even after we moved on to another city.. She had very good burgers delivered to our hotel when we did not want to venture out for dinner. Hotels selected by China Highlights are all fine. Breakfasts at the hotels are all good, especially if you like Chinese breakfast. We think veggies and chicken meat are much tastier than back home. Late March could be colder than forecast at times. While we were there, most flower blooms were pinkish. Cherry blossoms are at their peak together with crabapples. At Kunming Botanical Garden, there are more flower varieties to see. It’s off the beaten track however, accessible using the Didi app. It’s not crowded and it is very pleasant to walk there. Allow 2 hours for walking around. more
Apr 2025, Chet C
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Very good experience in Dali - Thanks to Frank!
Dali is a beautiful ancient town. We visited Er Hai 洱海, a huge lake. It was really scenic. Our guide, Frank, got us to walk along the lake. It was beautifully breathtaking. Frank filled us with a lot of interesting information about the place. We also learnt much about the culture of the land - the minority tribes, of which he belonged to one of them - Bai. Like us, Frank was a foodie and his recommendations were excellent, too. We also enjoyed our stay at Shaxi, a quaint ancient town in Dali, despite the fact that it was a little too commercialised. Nonetheless, it has many scenic places. Our trip would not have been that meaningful had not for Frank. Thank you, Frank! I think this private tour by China Highlights is a really enjoyable one. more
Apr 2025, NinoNing
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The Best Times to Visit Yunnan for Family Travel
Undoubtedly, spring and autumn are the best seasons for families of all ages. Your family could enjoy a wide range of activities, from cultural experiences to outdoor adventures.
If you're traveling with school-age children, summertime might be a suitable time. Although summer is the rainy season, your family could still enjoy some outdoor adventures, such as hiking, cycling, and exploring nature.
Northern and central cities, such as Dali, Kunming, and Lijiang, receive less rainfall than southern ones.
If your family is looking for a unique Christmas and New Year celebration, winter could also be a good time. Yunnan experiences relatively mild winters (December to February) compared to many other parts of China.
Lowland areas, such as Kunming, Dali, and Xishuangbanna, have pleasant daytime temperatures, typically ranging from 10–20°C (50–68°F).
If you are planning a family trip to Yunnan, see more on How to Plan a Family Trip to Yunnan, or feel free to contact us if you need professional advice and itinerary planning.
The Best Times to Visit Yunnan for Ethnic Festivals
If you want to experience the exotic Yunnan ethnic customs, April is recommended.
In April, you could experience the Water Splashing Festival in Xishuangbanna. People gather in the streets and on the riverbanks to douse each other with water as a symbol of cleansing and good luck. You would also witness colorful parades featuring traditional Dai clothing, music, and dance.
The San Yue Jie ethnic festival in Dali would also be held in the third lunar month (usually in April). You would have the opportunity to enjoy traditional cultural performances and explore bustling markets featuring a wide array of handicrafts, artworks, and local delicacies.
Yunnan enjoys rich and colorful ethnic cultures and traditions. If you are particularly interested in this, we could arrange some experiences for you in the itinerary according to your interests. Just contact us.
The Worst Time to Visit Yunnan
Yunnan does not have a worst time for sightseeing. Because Yunnan is located on a high plateau at a low latitude, this leads to excellent spring-like weather throughout the four seasons. There is no scorching heat or severe cold. Whenever you visit, you could enjoy its seasonal weather advantages and activities.
But if you dislike heavy rainfall and want to avoid wet weather, then the rainy season (June to August) might be the worst time for you to visit Yunnan.
Many areas, especially in the south (such as Xishuangbanna), experience frequent and sometimes torrential rain. Kunming, Dali, and Shangri-La would be better choices. Flexible arrangements need to be made to cope with occasional rain.
When it doesn't rain, you could still do many outdoor activities, such as hiking and cycling. When it rains, you could also have many rich indoor cultural experiences, such as dyeing a handkerchief in the traditional Bai way at a family tie-dyeing workshop.
We would create a hassle-free trip based on your travel time and requirements. Feel free to contact us.
Yunnan Travel Guide by Month
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
Yunnan in January
- Average daily temperature range: 3–17°C (37–63°F)
- Average rainy days: 3
- Average cloudy days: 11
- Average sunny days: 17
January brings crisp, cool weather to Yunnan. Xishuangbanna is a good place to escape the cold winter.
Lijiang, Dali, and Kunming also have mild and sunny weather. It is suitable to enjoy various outdoor activities.
There are also relatively few visitors to Yunnan in January.
Recommended China Tours in Yunnan
We are ready to solve the problems of planning a complex trip in an unfamiliar region for you, helping to save you time and effort while ensuring that your travel needs and desires are met. Just contact us to customize your trip.
All of our tours, including those recommended below, can be adjusted/customized based on your requirements: