How to Plan a Trip to Yunnan 2025

We offer great advice on planning your trip to Yunnan, including must-see attractions and recommended tours, when to go, weather, transportation, and hotels.

Yunnan Province, in southwest China, is rich in incredible landscapes, ethnic cultures, and historical sites. It is on many visitors' second-trip-to-China lists and is one of China's top places for photography, hiking, and mountaineering.

Knowing Yunnan is an amazing place to visit but still have many questions to plan your Yunnan tour? Doing detailed research before your Yunnan tour will make you travel smoothly and in a well-organized way. We have listed some essential travel information, like best to go, how to get to and within Yunnan, top places to visit, brilliant ethnic culture, festivals & traditional handcraft to experience, where to stay, for your Yunnan trip. Hope to help you make a more reasonable and useful trip plan. Check now!

Yunnan Weather & Best Time to Go

Yunnan generally belongs to subtropical plateau monsoon climate. The highest temperature is in July with an average around 19°C～22°C and the lowest temperature is in January around 6°C～8°C. It is cool in the morning and at night; and warm or hot at noon.

To travel in Yunnan, you should make clear the best time in different regions - Northwestern Yunnan and Southwestern/Southern Yunnan. (a) Come during May to October to Northwestern Yunnan is highly recommended when various kinds of flowers are in blossom on the plateau and other natural scenery could be breathtaking. (b) To visit Southwestern or Southern Yunnan, it is better to come during October to next April when sky is azure and weather is cool.

Things to Do in Yunnan

If it is your first time traveling Yunnan, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La are always top of the Yunnan list. Discover the large-scale Stone Forest near Kunming, relax in the ancient towns of Dali and Lijiang, listen to the roaring of Tiger Leaping Gorge, and experience Tibetan culture in Shangri-La.

Yunnan is also a paradise for hiking and mountaineering. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain are popular choices for amateur mountaineers, Tiger Leaping Gorge is celebrated as one of the world's most classic hiking trails, and Yubeng Village is more diversified with snow mountains, lakes, forests, and waterfalls.

Best Times to Visit Yunnan

The weather and topography in Yunnan Province are diverse over its different regions, but they generally enjoy mild climates with lots of pleasant weather. Though Yunnan is suitable for travel all year round, its regional destinations have different best times to visit and seasonal attractions.

• Spring (March to May) in Yunnan is the season for oceans of flowers. We recommend a visit to Kunming, Dali, Luoping, and Xishuangbanna. See the 5-Day Spring Tour to Kunming, Luoping, and Wanfenglin
• Summer (June to September) in Yunnan is a good season to escape China's heat. We recommend Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, and Puzhehei.
• Autumn (October to November) in Yunnan is busy with golden harvests and it's a season to enjoy clear blue skies. We recommend Dongchuan, Shangri-La, and Tengchong.
• Winter (December to February) in Yunnan is the best season to admire snow-capped mountains, rainforests, or mirror-like rice terraces. We recommend Xishuangbanna, Yuanyang, Tengchong, and Nujiang. See 7-Day Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang Winter Tour