Spring (April and May) is the best time to visit: the rice paddies are green, the rivers are full, and the karst mist hangs in the valleys in the mornings — exactly like the classical paintings. Autumn (September and October) is also good, with clearer skies. Summer (June to August) is hot and very humid, with heavy rainfalls, but the rivers run high and the landscape is lush. Winter is mild and relatively dry; fewer tourists, though the Longji terraces look their best in snow.
The Li River cruise can be affected by water levels — in dry years, low water in winter and early spring means smaller boats are used, or the departure point shifts.