Zunyi has a humid subtropical climate. Spring (March–May) is the best time: comfortable temperatures, the surrounding hills green and flowering, and the waterfalls at Chishui at good volume. Autumn (September–November) is the second choice, with clear days and lower humidity. Summers are hot and rainy; the Chishui waterfalls are most dramatic in July and August after heavy rain, but the heat in the valleys can be uncomfortable.
Winter is mild by Chinese standards — temperatures rarely drop below freezing in the city itself — and the revolutionary sites have no seasonal variation in interest. The national holidays (May Golden Week and October Golden Week) bring significant crowds to the Zunyi Conference site; weekdays in shoulder season are considerably quieter.