Hongcun is best visited in spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November). Spring brings misty mornings when low cloud hangs over the hills behind the village, creating the atmospheric conditions that landscape painters prize; autumn offers clear light, cooler temperatures, and the yellow of ginko trees against the whitewashed walls.
Summer (June to August) is hot and humid — southern Anhui in July can be oppressively so — but the tourist crowds are highest and accommodation prices peak. The lotus on South Lake is at its best in July and August if you can tolerate the heat. Winter visits, while cold and grey, offer near-empty lanes and the possibility of snow on the rooftops, which transforms the village into something close to a woodblock print.
The worst time to visit is during Chinese national holidays (Golden Week in early May and early October), when the village becomes genuinely unpleasant. The entrance ticket remains valid for multiple days, which is worth remembering if you happen to arrive during a rush.