China
Guilin in May
🌷 SpringWarm, a little humid and very wet. Watch for flood risk.
🎒 Pack: compact umbrella or rain jacket · waterproof sandals
Why May scores 7.3What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort6.6
- ✓Warm (28°C highs / 21°C lows)
- !Humid (dew point 20.3°C)
- !Wet: ~321 mm rain, ~11 heavy-rain days
- Air quality7.8
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~20 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards8.5
- !Flood: ~11 heavy-rain days (≥10 mm) in an average May
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| May | Oct | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.3 Good | 9.1 Excellent |
| Season | 🌷 Spring | 🍂 Autumn |
| High / low | 28° / 21° | 26° / 18° |
| Rain | 321 mm | 55 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 20° | dew pt 15° |
| PM2.5 | 20 µg/m³ | 20 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Guilin weather-station normals. Rainfall: Guilin weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Labor Day 1–4 May · 4 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore GuilinEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA city in Guangxi, southern China, famous for its limestone karst peaks along the Li River, caves, rice terraces and nearby Yangshuo.
Labor Day Golden WeekAcross China
A peak domestic travel week with crowds at every major site.
Coming up later
Osmanthus blooming seasonDate variesUsually September to October
Guilin's many osmanthus trees fill the city with a sweet scent in autumn.
Why go: A pleasant time to visit, with milder weather after summer.
Where: Citywide streets and parks
Chinese New YearDate variesLunar calendar - late January to mid-February, date moves each year
China's biggest holiday, with family reunions, fireworks and temple fairs.
Why go: Transport is extremely busy and some small businesses close.
Where: Citywide
Sanyuesan FestivalDate variesLunar calendar - 3rd day of the 3rd month, usually March or April
A festival of the Zhuang and other minority peoples with folk songs, dances and coloured sticky rice.
Why go: It is a regional public holiday in Guangxi, so scenic spots are busy.
Where: Across Guangxi
Li River cruise
Boat trips from Guilin to Yangshuo past karst peaks, including the scene printed on the 20-yuan note.
💡 River levels can be low in the dry winter months, which may shorten routes.
Yangshuo
A small town among karst peaks, a base for cycling, rafting and rock climbing.
Yulong River bamboo rafting
Slow bamboo raft trips on a quieter river near Yangshuo.
Reed Flute Cave
A limestone cave with stalactites lit by coloured lights.
Elephant Trunk Hill
A hill in the city centre whose arch over the river resembles an elephant drinking.
Longji Rice Terracesgreat in May
Steep terraces carved into the mountains near Longsheng, home to Zhuang and Yao villages.
💡 Terraces are filled with water in late spring and golden before the harvest in autumn.
Guilin rice noodles
Round rice noodles served with braised meat, peanuts, pickles and a rich sauce.
💡 Small noodle shops across the city
Beer fish
River fish cooked with local beer, tomatoes and chillies, a Yangshuo speciality.
Stuffed Li River snails
River snails stuffed with minced meat and herbs.
Bamboo tube rice
Rice cooked inside bamboo, a dish of the ethnic minority villages near the rice terraces.
💡 Longji area villages
Oil tea (youcha)
A savoury tea soup with puffed rice and peanuts, from the Gongcheng area.
Guilin chilli sauce
A local chilli and fermented bean sauce, one of the city's traditional 'three treasures'.
Sanhua liquor
A rice-based Chinese spirit from Guilin, another of the 'three treasures'.
Osmanthus products
Teas, sweets and wine flavoured with osmanthus, the flower the city is named after.