Best Time to Visit Jiujiang

Autumn is the sweet spot

October is the best month here, and November isn't far behind. Days are mild, with highs around 24°C in October. The rain drops off, and you get long stretches of clear sky over the Yangtze. That makes it the easiest time for Lushan, the misty mountain just south of the city. You can walk the paths around Lulin Lake and the Three Treasure Trees without slogging through mud or sweating through your shirt.

September is also good, though still warm. Early October overlaps with China's National Day holiday, which starts on 1 October and runs about a week. Lushan fills up fast then, so expect queues for the cable cars and packed buses. Late October and November are calmer.

Spring: green but soggy

March to May warms up nicely, but it's grey and damp. April and May each see rain on more than half the days. Mist hangs over Lushan, which looks lovely in photos and can hide the views you hiked up for. Down in town, the Gantang Lake area and the old streets around Xunyang are fine for a wander between showers. Bring a proper umbrella, because you'll use it.

Summer: hot, wet, then just hot

June is the wettest month, with rain on about 20 days. The plum rain season (called meiyu, the long wet spell across the Yangtze valley) brings heavy skies and sticky nights. July and August swap that for heat, with highs of 32°C and lows of 26°C. Nights offer little relief.

Still, summer has one clear use. Lushan sits high enough to be cooler than the city, so Chinese families escape up there, and it's the busiest stretch outside National Day. Travelling with kids and school's out? Expect crowds and higher prices on the mountain. If you must come in July or August, stay up there and visit the city in the morning.

Winter: quiet and cold

December to February is cold and damp, with highs from 9°C to 12°C and lows close to freezing. Houses here often have little heating, so indoor evenings can feel chilly. February is the poorest month for comfort, with rain on 13 days. But December is fairly dry, and Lushan can be dusted with snow. If you hate crowds and don't mind a coat, it's peaceful. Just avoid the Spring Festival travel rush in late January or February, when trains fill up.