Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province in China, is located on a low-latitude plateau and belongs to the subtropical plateau mountain monsoon climate. Kunming yearly weather is as pleasant as spring, with the annual average temperature of around 15℃. Known as the “Spring City” and “Flower City”, Kunming boasts year-round sunshine, fresh air, lush greenery, and blooming flowers. The unique mild Kunming weather makes it an excellent leisure, tourism, vacation, and livable city.
Overview of Kunming Weather
Kunming has no scorching heat in summer and no severe cold in winter, with a mild climate and evergreen vegetation. The sunshine is long and the frost period is short, with an average annual sunshine of about 2,200 hours, a frost-free period of over 240 days, and an average annual precipitation of about 1,000 millimeters.
Generally, Kunming in Yunnan, China weather has the following two characteristics:
Four seasons are like spring
Kunming weather is pleasantly mild, with small temperature differences between four seasons. Its annual average temperature is about 15-18℃. Winter is warm, summer is cool, and there will be no extreme high or low temperature weather. Kunming’s four-seasons-as-one–spring climate attracts countless tourists to start their Kunming tours.
The temperature change in Kunming is relatively small throughout the year, with an average monthly temperature of around 19℃ during the hottest period and around 8℃ during the coldest period. The highest annual extreme temperature in Kunming was 31.2℃, and the lowest was -7.8℃.
Clear distinction between dry and wet seasons
The precipitation in Kunming has obvious seasonality in terms of time distribution. The rainy season is from May to October, with precipitation accounting for about 85% of the annual total. The dry season from November to April of the following year only accounts for about 15% of the annual precipitation.
The precipitation in April and May, as well as October and November, varies greatly. The precipitation in May is 2-3 times higher than that in April, and the precipitation in October is more than twice as high as that in November.
Kunming Weather in Four Seasons
Kunming Weather in Spring
Kunming in spring is warm and dry, with less rain and more wind, vigorous evaporation, and large daily temperature changes.
In spring, the air currents come from tropical continents, with mostly sunny weather and monthly average temperatures below 20℃. But the temperature difference between day and night is large, with the characteristic of “four seasons in a day”. Besides, in spring precipitation is low, air humidity is low, evaporation is high, and temperature rises quickly, which is not conducive to agricultural production.
- Temperature: The daily maximum temperature is about 21℃, and the daily minimum temperature is about 7℃.
- Precipitation: The average precipitation is only 17 millimeters.
During spring, the streets and lanes of Kunming are filled with the fragrance of flowers, and various flower exhibitions and festival activities are emerging one after another. It is an ideal season to enjoy the natural scenery of Kunming and participate in various ethnic festival activities.
Kunming Weather in Summer
Kunming in summer is not scorching hot, with concentrated rainfall.
Due to its high altitude, the average temperature in Kunming during summer ranges from 20℃ to 25℃, making it a cool and pleasant place to escape the heat.
In summer, the air currents come from tropical oceans. Kunming weather is rainy and cloudy, with abundant moisture and moist soil. Therefore, during the summer season, except for areas below 1,600 meters above sea level where the average temperature can reach the summer standard of 22℃ for about 2 months, most other areas in Kunming city have a spring climate below 21℃ and no intense heat of summer. The rainfall in summer is concentrated, with heavy rain and rainstorm, accounting for more than 60% of the annual rainfall.
- Temperature: The daily maximum temperature is about 24℃, and the daily minimum temperature is about 16℃.
- Precipitation: The average precipitation is 161 millimeters.
Kunming in summer has moderate temperatures and abundant precipitation, making it suitable for summer vacations. The natural landscapes such as lakes, waterfalls, and canyons around Kunming are even more charming in summer.
Recommend Yunnan Kunming tours:
- 7 Days Kunming – Dali – Shangri-La – Lijiang Small Group Tour
- 3 Days Kunming Tour with Jiuxiang Cave & Stone Forest
Kunming Weather in Autumn
Kunming in autumn is nice and cool, with clear skies and less rainfall, and the frost season begins.
The temperature gradually decreases in autumn, and the Kunming weather is dry. In most areas, the temperature is about 2℃ lower than that in spring. The precipitation is reduced by more than half compared to summer, but more than in winter and spring, so autumn drought is less common. The rainy season usually ends in early to mid October, and the first frost period begins in early November.
- Temperature: The daily maximum temperature is about 23℃, and the daily minimum temperature is about 14℃.
- Precipitation: The average precipitation is 134 millimeters.
The crisp and pleasant Kunming weather in autumn makes it perfect for enjoying autumn scenery and tasting delicious food.
Kunming Weather in Winter
Kunming in winter has no severe cold, with ample sunshine, clear skies, and little rain.
In winter, the average number of sunny days per month in Kunming is around 20, with about 230 hours of sunshine and around 4 rainy days. The total precipitation throughout the winter season only accounts for 3% to 5% of the year. Kunming weather in winter is warm as spring, with an average temperature between 9℃ and 16℃, and very little snowfall. In addition, the abundant sunshine in Kunming during winter makes the city full of vitality.
Except for river valley areas below 1,500 meters above sea level, most areas in Kunming city have more than two months of winter (with an average temperature of less than 10℃ for 5 days), occasionally experiencing cold weather, frost or snowfall.
- Temperature: The daily maximum temperature is about 15℃, and the daily minimum temperature is about 4℃.
- Precipitation: The average precipitation is 21 millimeters.
In winter, Kunming has a relatively low temperature but abundant sunshine, and still maintains the spring-like climate characteristics, making it a great destination for winter tourism.
Best Time to Visit Kunming
Kunming, the famous “Spring City”, attracts countless tourists with its year-round spring–like climate, beautiful natural scenery, and rich ethnic culture. So, when is the most suitable time for a Kunming travel?
Kunming has a mild climate, with no scorching heat in summer and no severe cold in winter, and the four seasons are all like spring. Due to this climatic characteristic, Kunming is very suitable for tourism throughout the year.
- In spring(March to May), all things revive and flowers bloom, especially the cherry blossoms in Yuantong Mountain and the rhododendron sea in Western Hills (Xishan), which are even more beautiful.
- Insummer (June to August), Kunming is a great place to escape the heat. Summer is also the rainy season, and the ultraviolet rays are relatively You can fully enjoy outdoor activities and appreciate beautiful scenery such as the Stone Forest.
- In autumn(September to November), head to Green Lake Park, where you can find metasequoia, ginkgo trees, red-billed gulls, and more. The sky is blue and the water is clear, with flocks of seagulls. The roads in Kunming are dyed golden on both sides, making it a wonderful time worth savoring.
- Inwinter (December to February of the following year), Kunming weather remains warm and pleasant. You can watch red-billed gulls up close at the Haigeng Dam of Dianchi Lake and feed these cute little elves with bread.
What’s more, during the Chinese New Year, the ancient city of Kunming is bustling with activity, and you can feel the strong atmosphere of ethnic festivals.
Friendly Reminder
Located in a high-altitude region, Kunming has a large daily temperature difference and strong ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, when traveling in Kunming, it is important to pay attention to sun protection and bring items such as sun hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Meanwhile, due to its distinct dry and wet seasons, remember to bring rain gear during the rainy season; and bring some moisturizing skincare products during the dry season when traveling in Kunming. Pay attention to the weather forecast of Kunming and wear clothes appropriately.
In a word, the characteristics of Kunming weather and climate constitute the unique charm of this city. No matter which season you travel to Kunming, you can fully enjoy the beautiful scenery of this “spring city”!
