Guilin, in southern China’s Guangxi region, features a humid subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot, humid, and rainy, while winters are mild and damp. Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant weather, with blooming flowers or colourful foliage. Abundant rainfall, lush landscapes, and moderate sunshine define this picturesque destination year-round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Guilin’s climate is classified as humid subtropical, shaped by monsoon influences and its low-latitude location. The city experiences four distinct seasons. Winters (December to February) are short, mild, and damp, with average highs of 10–15°C and lows around 5–7°C. Snow is rare in the city but can occasionally dust the surrounding mountains. Despite the mild temperatures, the humidity and lack of central heating can make winter feel chilly. Sunshine is limited, with only 2–4 hours per day, and rainfall is moderate, making for misty, atmospheric landscapes.
Spring (March to May) brings a rapid warming, with highs rising from 17°C in March to 27°C in May. Rainfall increases significantly, especially in May, which marks the start of the rainy season. Misty mornings and drizzling rain are common, creating postcard-perfect scenes along the Li River. Summer (June to August) is hot, humid, and the wettest period, with highs of 30–33°C, lows of 23–25°C, and frequent heavy downpours or thunderstorms. Humidity often exceeds 80%, and lush greenery flourishes. Autumn (September to November) is considered the best season, with clear skies, comfortable temperatures (20–30°C), less rain, and vibrant countryside colours. Winds are generally light year-round, and annual sunshine totals about 1,500–1,600 hours, peaking in summer and early autumn.
| Average climate data for Guilin, China | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 12 | 15 | 18 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 26 | 20 | 14 | 31 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 5 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 58 | 60 | 118 | 131 | 189 | 282 | 216 | 136 | 61 | 33 | 49 | 46 | 1,378 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 15 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 24 | 17 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 224 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 69 | 73 | 77 | 80 | 82 | 87 | 85 | 82 | 79 | 69 | 70 | 67 | 77 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 53 | 60 | 63 | 62 | 57 | 61 | 51 | 43 | 39 | 34 | 44 | 42 | 51 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
The best time to visit Guilin is during spring (April–May) and autumn (September–November), when temperatures are comfortable, rainfall is moderate, and the landscapes are at their most beautiful. These seasons offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and photography, with fewer crowds compared to the summer peak.
The least favourable time to visit Guilin is in the peak summer months of June to August, when high temperatures, intense humidity, and frequent heavy rain or thunderstorms can make outdoor activities uncomfortable. Winter is also less ideal for some, due to dampness and limited sunshine, though it is less crowded.
Guilin has a humid subtropical monsoon climate with hot, humid, and rainy summers, mild and damp winters, and pleasant spring and autumn seasons. Rainfall is abundant, especially from April to September, and sunshine is moderate.
The best times to visit Guilin are spring (April–May) and autumn (September–November), when temperatures are comfortable, rainfall is moderate, and the scenery is at its most vibrant. These periods are ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Snow is rare in Guilin city due to its mild winter temperatures. However, occasional light snow can occur in the surrounding mountains, creating picturesque winter landscapes, especially at higher elevations like the Longji Rice Terraces.
Guilin receives about 1,900 mm of rain annually, with the wettest months from April to September. May and June see the highest rainfall, often with heavy downpours and thunderstorms, while winter months are drier.
Summer temperatures in Guilin typically reach 30–33°C, with high humidity making it feel even hotter. Nights are warm, and frequent rain or thunderstorms help cool the air but add to the overall humidity.
In spring and summer, bring breathable clothing, a raincoat, and an umbrella. For autumn, pack light layers and a jacket for cooler evenings. In winter, warm layers and antiskid shoes are recommended, especially if visiting mountainous areas.
Yes, but the best conditions are in spring and autumn. Summer is good for water activities but can be hot and wet, while winter is mild but damp. Always check the weather forecast and prepare for rain, especially in the wet season.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (31 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (11.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 22.7 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (22.6 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (5.3 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 14.8 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (282.1 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is October (32.8 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,378.1 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (27.7 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is October (8.4 days). Over the whole year there are 224.5 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (3 mm). The months with the least snowfall are February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 4 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (0.4 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are April, May and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 1.2 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is June (87.1 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is December (66.7 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 76.6 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (8.8 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (6 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 7.4 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is March (63 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is October (34.5 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 50.8 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 13.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 10.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is September (Average sunshine: 8 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 5 h). Over the whole year there are 6.1 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are July and August (UV index: 7). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, November and December (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.9.
