When to Visit Guilin

Guilin's coldest month, with highs of 11°C (53°F) and lows dipping to 6°C (42°F). Rainfall is light at 69mm, and the skies, when they clear, have a pale wintry quality that renders the limestone towers in stark relief.

Warms slightly to highs of 14°C (57°F) with lows of 8°C (46°F), and rainfall edges up to 84mm as the season begins its slow turn. The days can feel grey and drizzly. But the city has a quieter, more local character than at any other time of year.

Signals spring's arrival, with highs reaching 17°C (63°F) and lows of 11°C (52°F), though rainfall jumps sharply to 152mm as the monsoon builds. The vegetation around Guilin greens up visibly by mid-month, and the rice terraces at Longji begin their annual transformation.

Brings warm afternoons at 23°C (74°F) with mild nights around 16°C (61°F), but it also delivers Guilin's second-heaviest rainfall month at 226mm. The Li River runs full and reflects the surrounding peaks dramatically. Pack for intermittent downpours.

Lush, warm, and wet, with highs of 27°C (82°F) and lows of 20°C (69°F). At 320mm of rain, this is one of the wetter months of the year, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. That said, mornings often clear beautifully.

Marks the peak of Guilin's monsoon, with 450mm of rainfall, highs of 30°C (86°F), and nights that stay warm at 23°C (74°F). Flooding along the Li River is not unusual in heavy years. The landscape is at its most intensely green, and the mist can be exceptional. But outdoor plans need flexibility.

Hot and significantly drier than June, with highs of 32°C (91°F) and lows of 25°C (77°F) on 267mm of rain. The summer school holiday season drives Chinese domestic tourism upward, and Guilin's boat trips and cave sites fill up.

The hottest month of the year, with highs touching 33°C (91°F) and lows of 25°C (77°F), but it's also one of the drier summer months at 147mm. Heat is the dominant factor, and early morning or late afternoon activity makes more sense than midday.

Begins the gradual cooling that defines Guilin's autumn appeal. Highs drop to 30°C (87°F) and lows to 22°C (72°F), with 81mm of rain that falls less predictably than the monsoon months. The karst valleys start to clear, and the light shifts toward something more golden.

October is Guilin's finest month, bar none. Highs of 26°C (79°F) and lows of 18°C (64°F) feel perfect. Just 56mm of rain falls, and clear skies stay reliable. This is the most comfortable and photogenic time of year. Golden Week in the first week pushes crowds to their annual peak. The weeks after that are considerably more relaxed.

November cools to highs of 20°C (69°F) and lows of 13°C (55°F). Expect 81mm of rain, spread unevenly through the month. The autumn colours on the hillsides above Yangshuo and around the Longji terraces can be striking. Bring layers. Pack a light rain jacket.

January brings genuine winter. Highs of 14°C (58°F) and lows of 8°C (46°F) feel brisk. Rainfall totals 53mm, mostly as overcast drizzle rather than sustained downpours. The tourist infrastructure thins out. The riverside areas feel almost contemplative. Guilin's Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill see their quietest visitor numbers of the year.