October to April is the best season in Chongzuo — dry, warm but not oppressive, and clear enough for the Zuojiang boat trip to the Huashan murals to be at its best. The rainy season (May to September) brings humidity and frequent rain; the Zuojiang river is higher and faster but the light is often grey.
Sanyuesan — the third day of the third lunar month, usually in April or May — is the major Zhuang festival, worth timing a visit around if you can manage it. The singing competitions and bamboo dances in the villages around Chongzuo are more spontaneous and more interesting than the formal city events.
Winter (November to February) sees occasional cold snaps but is generally mild and comfortable. The Huashan murals stand out most clearly on bright, dry days when the red ochre pigment is vivid against the pale limestone.