Lijiang sits at 2,400 metres and enjoys a mild climate year-round by Chinese standards — warm summers, cool winters, and relatively little of the extremes that affect lower-lying cities. The best months are March to May and September to November, when skies tend to be clear, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is visible from town, and daytime temperatures are comfortable (15–22°C).
June to August brings the monsoon. Rain falls heavily in July and August, often in afternoon thunderstorms. The mountain can be socked in cloud for days at a stretch, and the Tiger Leaping Gorge trail carries some landslide risk in the wettest weeks. Despite this, summer is peak domestic tourism season, and the old town is extremely crowded with Chinese holiday-makers.
Winter (December to February) is cold but often sunny, with clear views of the snow mountain and far fewer visitors. Daytime temperatures drop to 5–12°C but rarely freeze in the old town; nights are cold. This is a genuinely good time to visit if you want the old town to yourself — some guesthouses and smaller restaurants close, but the main attractions remain open.
The Naxi New Year (Sanduo Festival) falls on the eighth day of the second lunar month and includes traditional music, dancing, and offerings at local temples — worth timing a trip around if the dates work.