Lushan is at its most atmospheric in spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October). The spring months bring rhododendron blooms in the botanical garden and the mountain mist that has inspired landscape painters for centuries; autumn turns the valley vegetation amber and gold and the weather is clear and cool. Summer is pleasant at altitude — the mountain's elevation keeps temperatures around 22°C when Jiujiang swelters below — and this was always the appeal for the foreign visitors who developed Guling. The trade-off is crowds: summer is peak season, with Chinese families escaping the heat.
Winter is cold and quiet, with occasional snow that transforms the mountain landscape. The cable car and some sites may close briefly in bad weather, but the uncrowded trails and snow-covered colonial villas have their own appeal for those prepared for the conditions.