Guilin has a sub-tropical monsoon climate. With a mild temperature and plenty of rainfall, it is a travel paradise all the year round. From the morning to the dusk, no matter it is sunny, rainy or misty, there are always beautiful and diverse sceneries to fill the eyes.
Spring-- As the northern cities are still white covered with snow, spring in Guilin is already an energetic garden with red flowers and green trees. The average temperature is around 10 ℃/50 F, although sometimes the rainy days bring the cold winds back.
Summer—July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 28 ℃/82.4 F. Coincidently, the rainy season also falls in summer. Measuring 1000 millimeters, it occupies over 50% of the total rainfall. However, to experience the rain is not a bad thing. On the contrary, the rain will abate the hot weather, bringing cool summer nights. Moreover, there is a famous saying going that, “night of Shanghai, fog of Chongqing and rain of Guilin.” In the rain, the mountains and the rivers seem to be veiled in a dreamy haze. Your eyes will be feasted with unique and marvelous scenes of nature.
Autumn—Autumn is the most attractive time of the year. With a shining sun, blue sky, gentle winds and pleasant temperature, everything is at the best state. Boating on a river, you will see the whole world distinctly reflected in the limpid and quiet water, enjoying a magic of passing across the tops of the mountains.
Winter— Although winter is the coldest time of the year, it rarely snows. The average temperature is around 8 ℃/ 46.4 F. During the coldest days, namely around the Spring Festival, amazing snow sceneries can be enjoyed on top of the hills. In October, when sweet osmanthus is in bloom, the fragrance of the blossoms pervades the air of the city.
Best time to travel
In theory, the best time to travel Guilin is from August to October, when the weather conditions are most favorable. But the national holiday –the first week of October should be avoided. During that time, countless Chinese people flow into Guilin, resulting in difficulty in hotel reservation and traffic jams as well as higher prices. Similar conditions also happen in the first week of May. If you don’t mind the wet weather, from April to July, you can enjoy the fantastic rainy sceneries in Guilin, especially that on the banks of the Lijiang river.
It is also worth mentioning that to attract tourists during the so-called slack season (October to December), many interesting activities are held in Guilin, including the folk ones by the ethnic minorities to celebrate their own festivals. So traveling during this time to taste the profound local customs is also a pretty good idea.
Travel tips
--From March to July, always remember to take an umbrella with you. Travelers in March are very likely to encounter with unexpected rain, while from April to July, rainy days are inevitable.
-- A sweater is recommended in spring and autumn, while warmer clothes should be prepared for the winter. In summer, a short-sleeved shirt is the best choice. And, of course, comfortable footwear is a whole-year thing.
