The best months for Taiyuan are April to June and September to October. Spring brings apricot and peach blossom to the city's parks and the mountain slopes around Jinci in late March and April, and the green fields around the spring gardens are at their most attractive in May. Autumn is ideal for the outdoor heritage sites — comfortable temperatures, clear air, and the possibility of autumn colour in the western hills around Tianlongshan.
Summer (July and August) is hot and occasionally smoky; the coal economy that funds Shanxi still leaves its mark on summer air quality in the industrial areas, though the city centre is considerably better than it was a decade ago. Winter is cold (temperatures regularly below -10°C) but dry, and the heritage sites are uncrowded.