Located in the southwestern corner of China, bordering Burma, Thailand and Vietnam, Yunnan province is one of the warmest regions in all of China. The province has an average daily temperature of 24 degrees Celsius or about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. But within the province there is a great deal of variety of weather conditions according to geography and season.
The climate becomes warmer and more tropical as you travel farther south toward the Tropic of Cancer. And it is cooler in the highland regions.
The capital city of Kunming is known for its mild, spring-like climate all year round, for which it is often called the “Spring City.”
The highland regions, such as Lijiang and Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, are cooler and best experienced in the warmer months between April and October.
With high elevation and low latitude, Lijiang has a mild subtropical highland climate which is pleasant year round, with crisp blue skies, bracing air and snowy mountains.
Summers in Lijiang are warm and rainy. In January, the coldest month, it has a 24-hour average temperature of 6.4 degrees C (43.5 degrees F). Springs come early and are warm and dry. June, the warmest month, has 24-hour average temperature of 18.6 degrees C (65.5 degrees F). In late September, the rain lets up for a mild, sunny autumn.
The weather of Qujing is characteristic of a mild subtropical highland climate, which reflects the interaction between its low latitude and moderate elevation. The weather is moderate and pleasurable year round. But it varies with seasonal changes. It has short, mild, dry winters, and warm, rainy summers. In winter there may be frost at night, but the days warm up again to about 15 degrees C (59 degrees F). In summer most days have some rainfall with daytime temperatures rising to about 25degrees C (77degrees F). Most of the year's rainfall happens from June to October.
The climate of the Yuxi region is a subtropical plateau monsoon climate, with mild, spring-like weather year round. It is hottest in June, and coldest in December or January. Fuxian Lake, one of the most famous scenic spots in Yuxi, has humid subtropical climate with humid summers and mild dry winters.
In Wenshan the climate is steady and moderate. Most of Wenshan has a mild subtropical climate without extremes of hot or cold.
Positioned geographically at low latitude and at moderate elevation, Baoshan has a mild subtropical highland climate, with short, mild, dry winters and warm, rainy summers. Frost may occur at night during the short winter, but the daytimes warm up again to roughly 16 to 17 degrees C (61 to 63 degrees F)
Pu'er, home to Pu’er National Park and Xiniu (Rhino) Plains Scenic Area, is in a transitional zone between tropical and subtropical climate zones.
Lincang City is in the southwest of Yunnan province at the far western edge of China near the border with Myanmar (Burma). At a latitude of 23 degrees north, Lincang sits right on the Tropic of Cancer. But its high altitude moderates the temperature, and the combination produces a mild low-latitude mountain monsoon climate, with comfortably warm daytimes throughout the year.