Best Time to Visit Qingyuan

Cool and dry: October to February

This is the stretch to aim for. Days are mild and the air feels lighter. December is the driest month, with rain on only five days. October is the sunniest, with almost six hours a day.

By January you'll want a jacket in the evenings, because nights drop to about 8°C. That's cold in a city where few buildings have proper heating. It's good weather for walking, though.

If you want to see Qingyuan's best-known sights, this is the time. Drifting down the Beijiang River through the Feixia Gorge on a boat is far nicer without rain. The same goes for the hot springs, which feel best on a cool evening. Hikers should head for Feilaixia, or for the hills around Gudou, where the paths stay dry underfoot.

Chinese New Year and crowds

Chinese New Year falls in late January or February, and the date moves each year. Many shops and restaurants close for several days, and trains fill up with people going home. Qingyuan itself gets busy with weekend visitors from Guangzhou, who come for the hot springs and the countryside. Travelling with kids? School holidays in China also bring families in the same season.

Outside those holidays, Qingyuan is quiet. You won't find the heavy international crowds of bigger Guangdong cities.

March to May: damp and grey

Spring is the foggy, drizzly part of the year. March already has rain on 14 days, and sun is scarce at about two hours a day. By May it rains on 22 days and the air feels sticky.

If you do come now, treat it as a low-key trip. Pick indoor stops, long tea breaks and a bowl of Qingyuan chicken, the city's famous local dish. Hiking is possible but the trails get slippery.

June to September: hot, wet and heavy

June is the wettest month by a wide margin, with 398 mm and rain on 24 days. July and August are the hottest, with highs of 32°C and warm nights. Storms can be sudden and strong.

Is this ever a good time? It can be, if you want low prices and empty trails, and you accept getting wet. Rivers run full, so the gorge and waterfalls look their most powerful. September is the easiest of these months, with more sun and less rain.