Best Time to Visit Qujing

Dry season: November to April

This is the stretch to aim for. Skies are mostly clear, and days are mild and pleasant. Winter nights get properly cold, though, especially in December and January, when lows are only 2–3°C. Heating in budget hotels can be thin, so ask about it.

February is the driest month, with rain on just two days. March and April warm up quickly. By April, showers return on about nine days, but they rarely spoil a day.

This is the best time for the Luoping canola flower fields. The bright yellow blooms around Luoping usually peak in February and March, and photographers come from all over China. Qujing is also a handy base for the Jiulong Waterfalls near Luoping, which look good in spring. If you want long, easy days outdoors, pick February to April.

May to September: the wet months

May is a bridge. It's warm, with highs of 28°C, but rain falls on 14 days and the sun fades. June is the wettest month, with rain on 23 days and under two hours of sun a day. July and August aren't much better.

Is it worth going? Only if you don't mind grey skies and muddy trails. The upside is green hills and fewer visitors. Mountain views from places like Zhanyi's wetlands can vanish in cloud, though. September is a "Fair" month. It's still damp, but it's slowly improving.

October: a good second window

October is the surprise. Rain eases to 77 mm, and it's cooler at 22°C. Humidity is at its highest, so mornings can feel misty and still. Sunshine is limited, so it suits slow city days more than big views. By November, skies clear and the air feels crisp.

Crowds and events

Qujing isn't a mass-tourism stop, so crowds are modest all year. The busiest times are Chinese New Year, usually in late January or February, and the October "Golden Week" national holiday. Prices and traffic go up then, especially on routes to Luoping. The flower season can bring day-trippers on weekends.

If you hate crowds, go in late November or early March. You'll get good weather and a quieter road.