Best time to visit Yunnan

Best time to visit Yunnan

There’s a saying in Yunnan: "You can enjoy all four seasons on the same mountain, with each just a few miles from the next".

If you had to pick one Chinese province that would expose you to the most varied climate, it would be Yunnan, and the weather – that changes daily rather than seasonally – is as diverse as its landscape. The best time to visit Yunnan, therefore, is pretty much up to you, although as a rule of thumb the temperature and rainfall rises the further south you travel. Lijian and Shangri-La sit high above sea level and are most comfortable from April-Oct. Spring is cool and colourful all rounder, with wild flowers and dense foliage.

Call us for the best time to go to Yunnan

Yunnan Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

185

JUL

207

AUG

186

SEP

123

OCT

NOV

DEC

Yunnan travel advice

Mia Yang, from our partner, China Highlights, shares her tips for visiting Yunnan:

Preparing for the weather

“The weather across Yunnan Province is very changeable due to its varied terrain and conditions. Even if you travel in summer, packing a light jacket is very practical as early morning and evening can get quite cool.”

Responsible tourism

“When in the countryside, don’t photograph an old person without his or her permission. Also, be prepared that toilets in the countryside are usually not clean. It is wise to always bring your own toilet tissue, and use the bathroom of your hotel before you hit the road. Otherwise, embrace the experience with an open mind.”

Culture tips

“Yunnan is home to many ethnic minorities, each living by their own diverse customs and traditions. When visiting ethnic villages, be courteous and observe any signs regarding what to do and not to do. If you are not serious about making a purchase, do not ask for the price of the item you’re buying, or try to bargain with the vendor.”

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Tips from our travellers in China

At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.

We have selected some of the most useful Yunnan travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.

Do it! The whole trip was so great! I really enjoyed walking around the streets of Lijian, and hiking in the mountains outside Dali was also great!

- Ethan Meyers

“Hire a bike in Dali and head off the beaten track.”– Juliet Hewish

“If you’re cycling, take warm waterproof gear and a head torch. It rained on a few occasions and is cold at altitude. The electric went out at Tiger Leaping Gorge, so the head torch was very useful. Shangri-La is 3,700m, so read up on altitude sickness, and take toilet roll, it can be in short supply.”– Karen Harding

“Take some dollars, go (unlike locals) between November and April – we had superb weather; take some warm clothing for the Tibetan plateau, and take plenty of film and memory cards for your camera!” – John Deason

The scenery can be described as no less than stunning, and the people who we stayed with and walked amongst were friendly, curious, and clearly hard-working, making those of us on holiday feel very privileged to be there.

- Claire Cowie

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Written by Polly Humphris

Best time to visit Yunnan