Almanac / seasons
When to visit Guilin
Guilin is not one destination. It is a wet, misty spring, a hot and busy summer, a clear autumn, and a cool, quiet winter. Pick the month that matches the trip you want.
12 months / rain, river, crowds, and light
Rainy season
Mar–Jun
Peak rain in May and June. The river can flood; the terraces are at their best.
Temperature range
A year in one chart
Average daily low and high, rounded. Summer humidity makes the heat feel higher; winter damp makes the cold feel lower.
01 / Winter
January
Quiet, cool, and cheap: the best month for the city without crowds, though the terraces are bare.
02 / Late winter
February
Mild and quiet for most of the month, with a sharp spike around Chinese New Year.
03 / Spring
March
Mild, green, and increasingly wet: the start of the misty season and a good month for photography.
04 / Spring
April
Warm and green, with the terraces beginning to flood and rain never far away.
05 / Late spring
May
Lush, warm, and wet: the terraces are full, the river is high, and the holiday crowds arrive.
06 / Summer / wet
June
Hot, humid, and often flooded: the wettest month, with dramatic river conditions and fewer tourists.
07 / Summer
July
Hot and busy, with afternoon storms and the school holiday crowds. Early starts are essential.
08 / Summer
August
Still hot and busy, with slightly less rain and the first hint of autumn at the end of the month.
09 / Early autumn
September
Warm and increasingly clear, with gold beginning on the terraces and the best light of the year.
10 / Autumn
October
The most comfortable month, with clear skies, golden terraces, and the National Day crowds.
11 / Late autumn
November
Cool, clear, and quiet: the best value month for the river and the terraces after the harvest.
12 / Winter
December
Cool and quiet, with clear river water and the lowest prices of the year outside the holidays.
The short version
For the river
October and November. Clear water, dry days, and enough light to see the karst.
For atmosphere
April and May. Mist, flooded terraces, and the classic Guilin landscape — with rain.
For low prices
December to February, outside Chinese New Year. Cool, quiet, and cheap.