Lijiang weather in January

January in Lijiang: cool, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Lijiang🇨🇳 China · Yunnan · Trekking84
  1. 84Jan
  2. 88Feb
  3. 93Mar
  4. 94Apr
  5. 83May
  6. 67Jun
  7. 61Jul
  8. 65Aug
  9. 69Sep
  10. 82Oct
  11. 90Nov
  12. 87Dec

#6 of 12 months in Lijiang · #363 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 84/100 (tier A)

Days
14°C
Nights
0°C
Wet days
4
Sun
9.3 h
Humidity
59%
Daylight
11 h
Lijiang, China
Photo: David Tran · Pexels

Traveller notes on Lijiang in January

Lijiang-forum threads on a January visit describe nights as genuinely cold, posters naming in-room heaters as a near-universal feature of local guesthouses built around exactly this. Regulars call days genuinely warm in direct sun despite the cold air, several posters naming this contrast as a real feature of January here. Posters call altitude sickness a genuine risk for anyone heading up to the surrounding mountains, several regulars naming this as worth planning around regardless of how mild the old town itself feels. Regulars call January genuinely off-peak, several threads naming lower prices and thinner crowds as real advantages of visiting this time of year. Posters recommend real layered clothing for the cold mornings and evenings, several regulars calling this standard given how much temperatures swing through a January day. The record: 14.3C days, -0.1C nights, 13.6mm across nearly 4 days and 59 percent humidity.
LijiangJanuaryRegular · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Lijiang

Lijiang-forum threads comparing late August and September call early September marginally better than late August, posters describing late September as better again given the lower chance of showers by that point. Regulars call late-September conditions typically mild by day with low cloud and a real chill setting in overnight. Posters recommend avoiding China's National Day holiday week, October first through the seventh, several regulars calling that stretch genuinely crowded, expensive and best avoided by visiting just before or after. Regulars call the old town and surrounding Yunnan scenery worth building extra time around, September considered a strong month for combining Lijiang with wider regional stops. Posters recommend real layers for the evening chill despite comfortable daytime conditions, elevation here making a genuine difference after dark. The record: 22.5C days feeling like 22C, 14C nights, an extraordinarily high 260.9mm across over 25 days and 76 percent humidity.
LijiangSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Lijiang-forum threads comparing past weather here and in nearby Zhongdian describe February as genuinely cold and dry by local standards, posters calling mornings and evenings properly brisk while midday sun, once it breaks through, warms things considerably. Regulars call this the tail end of the region's dry season, precipitation minimal and skies generally clear compared with the wetter summer months. Posters recommend real layers for the big daily swing, a warm jacket essential before sunrise and after sunset even if the afternoon turns mild. Regulars describe Chinese New Year as falling within this window some years, a real surge in domestic visitors and accommodation prices during the festival stretch. Posters call the old town's lantern displays and dragon dances worth timing a visit around if the dates align. Regulars recommend booking ahead during the holiday period. The record: 15.6C days feeling like 12C, 1.8C nights, 22.2mm across nearly 5 days and 60 percent humidity.
LijiangFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Lijiang-forum threads on late-November conditions describe daytime readings as still reasonably comfortable, though posters call the back half of the month noticeably cooler than early November, evenings turning genuinely raw given the elevation. Regulars recommend a proper down jacket for anyone visiting mid-to-late November, temperatures at night and sometimes even during the day requiring real warmth. Posters describe conditions as generally not very wet, precipitation dropping off compared to the summer monsoon months. Regulars call October and early November the more favored stretch for clear scenery, late November already sliding toward the sharper end of autumn. Posters recommend layering regardless of the specific date, temperature swings between day and night genuinely significant. Regulars call the old town and surrounding views worth the trip across the full autumn stretch. The record: 18.1C days feeling like 16C, 3.7C nights, a low 67 percent humidity and 9.2 hours of sun.
LijiangNovemberRegular · November · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Lijiang-forum threads on June weather describe this as sitting within the region's wetter stretch, running roughly June through September, though posters are consistent mornings tend to stay clear with heavier activity building through the afternoon. Regulars call Yunnan's elevation a genuine advantage over much of China this time of year, comfortably mild rather than the intense heat many other Chinese cities see in June. Posters describe the Old Town's cobbled lanes as atmospheric even under a passing shower, though mountain views toward the towering Yulong peak are noticeably better on clearer mornings before cloud typically builds. Regulars recommend late June for anyone flexible on dates, school holidays not yet in full swing and crowds still manageable. A light rain layer is standing advice regardless of how the morning looks. The record: 24.8C days feeling like 24C, 15.1C nights, an extraordinarily high 181mm across nearly 22 days and 79 percent humidity.
LijiangJuneRegular · June · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Lijiang climate normals — January

Daytime high14°C / 58°F🙂 cool
Nighttime low0°C / 32°F
Feels like (high)11°C / 52°F
Rainfall14 mm / 0.5 in☀️ dry
Rainy days4 days
Humidity59%🍃 comfortable
Dew point-5°C / 23°F
Sunshine9.3 h/day
Daylight10.7 h
Wind11 km/h / 7 mph
Snowfall2.3 cm / 0.9 in
Air quality (US AQI)42🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Lijiang in January

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

BusyWinter break (around Chinese New Year) in China, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Lijiang's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Fair weatherLijiang's best weather comes in March, April and November — separate windows, not one continuous season.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Lijiang in January

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Rule

    Old town maintenance fee

    1 Jan – 31 Dec

    Fifty yuan a head since August 2025, down from eighty and now valid for a year. Collection is patchy: some guesthouses add it, some checkpoints never ask. Source ↗

What's on around the world in January →

Where is Lijiang?

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Lijiang in January — FAQ

Is January a good time to visit Lijiang?
January in Lijiang: cool, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Lijiang on SeasonMap's comfort score (84/100).
What is the weather like in Lijiang in January?
In January, Lijiang averages a daily high of 14.3°C and a low of -0.1°C, with about 13.6 mm of rain over roughly 3.5 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Lijiang in January?
Lijiang has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 42 in January.
Does it snow in Lijiang in January?
Lijiang sees roughly 2.3 cm of snowfall in January.