Guiyang's elevation (around 1,100 metres) gives it a noticeably more pleasant climate than the subtropical lowlands of Guangdong or Guangxi. The city is famous among Chinese for cool summers: average July temperatures of 24°C are a significant relief from the 35°C heat of Guangzhou or Chongqing. This has made Guiyang a popular summer escape for domestic tourists; accommodation fills in July and August.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best months for comfortable travel — mild temperatures, less rain than summer, good visibility for outdoor activities. Winter is cold and overcast, with temperatures occasionally dropping below zero, though significant snow is rare in the city itself. The Guizhou Minority Festival calendar offers reasons to visit in any season: the Miao New Year celebration in the lunar eleventh month, the Dong Song Festival in autumn, and various local market cycles around Kaili and eastern Guizhou.