Yichun is best visited in spring (March to May) when the mountain landscapes come to life and temperatures are moderate, or in autumn (September to November) when the deciduous forest on Mingyue Mountain turns colour. The city's own name — "pleasant spring" — tells you the season it is most suited for.
Summer is hot and humid, as it is across Jiangxi, though the mountain elevations at Mingyue provide some relief. The hot springs at Wentang are most appealing in the cooler months when the contrast between the warm water and the outdoor temperature is greatest. Winter is mild by northern Chinese standards and the mountain trails remain passable, but the main appeal of the landscape — colour, flowers, foliage — is absent.
The national holidays (Golden Week in early October) bring significant domestic crowds to Mingyue Mountain. The spring Ching Ming holiday period in April sees Buddhist pilgrims at the Yangshan temples.