Yangshuo (Li River) weather in May

May in Yangshuo: hot, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 22 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Yangshuo🇨🇳 China · Southern China & Hong Kong · Trekking55
  1. 77Jan
  2. 80Feb
  3. 72Mar
  4. 62Apr
  5. 55May
  6. 46Jun
  7. 54Jul
  8. 52Aug
  9. 64Sep
  10. 79Oct
  11. 84Nov
  12. 86Dec

#9 of 12 months in Yangshuo · #1238 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 55/100 (tier D)

Days
27°C
Nights
21°C
Wet days
22
Sun
6.6 h
Humidity
85%
Daylight
13 h
Yangshuo, China
Photo: Guillaume Kremer · Pexels

Traveller notes on Yangshuo in May

Yangshuo-forum threads on a May visit describe this as genuinely hot and humid, posters naming the start of heavy rain as standard for the month with totals around three hundred millimeters. Regulars call rising water genuinely capable of turning the Li and Yulong Rivers yellow, several posters naming this as a real disruption to rafting and bamboo-boat trips when it happens. Posters call late April through mid-May genuinely a narrower sweet spot, several regulars naming this window as before the worst of the downpours typically arrive. Regulars call checking recent river conditions genuinely worthwhile before booking a boat trip, several threads naming this standard given how much water levels can shift with rain. Posters recommend real flexible plans around a May visit, several regulars calling this standard given how unpredictable the timing of heavy rain can be. The record: 27.4C days, 20.9C nights, an extraordinarily high 261.3mm across over 22 days and 85 percent humidity.
YangshuoMayRegular · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Yangshuo

Yangshuo-forum threads comparing winter months call January and February genuinely colder than a December visit, posters describing this as a real factor for anyone sensitive to chilly, damp conditions. Regulars call April through early November the broader recommended window, July and August flagged specifically as the stretch to avoid instead. Posters recommend bamboo rafting on the Yulong River as a real February option regardless of the cooler air, several regulars describing it as worthwhile even outside peak season. Regulars call rock climbing and village visits both genuinely doable this time of year, the karst scenery considered a real draw whatever the temperature. Posters recommend real layers and a waterproof shell regardless of forecast, February conditions here capable of turning damp and grey with little warning. The record: 15.7C days feeling like 15C, 8.6C nights, an extraordinarily high 98.5mm across over 13 days and 79 percent humidity.
YangshuoFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Yangshuo-forum threads on a March visit describe temperatures as typically running in the low-to-mid teens Celsius, posters calling conditions capable of turning genuinely damp and grey alongside real sunny stretches. Regulars call one visitor's late-March trip a chilly, wet experience, though it still rated among their best trips despite the weather. Posters describe misty conditions after a shower as beautiful around nearby Xingping, the karst peaks taking on real character. Regulars call March weather windy and variable, a single trip capable of sun, wind and real rain within a short stretch. Posters recommend real layers and a waterproof regardless of forecast, conditions shifting fast enough to catch visitors off guard. Regulars call the karst scenery worth the trip regardless of conditions, the region's reputation holding up even when grey. The record: 20.6C days feeling like 22C, 13.5C nights, an extraordinarily high 186.2mm across over 19 days and 82 percent humidity.
YangshuoMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Yangshuo-forum threads on January conditions describe the month as genuinely cool and damp, one poster comparing the feel to a Dublin January more than what travelers might expect from southern China. Regulars call daytime readings tolerable enough for cycling and hiking among the karst peaks, though nighttime is where the real discomfort sets in. Posters describe nearby Guilin as running similarly, some days reaching comfortably into the sixties Fahrenheit while others stay considerably cooler. Regulars recommend real waterproof outer layers given how often a damp, overcast stretch shows up. Posters call January still entirely worth visiting despite the chill, several describing it among their best China trips. Regulars recommend checking a current forecast rather than the region's warmer reputation. The record: 15C days feeling like 14C, 7.7C nights, an extraordinarily high 87.5mm across nearly 13 days and 76 percent humidity.
YangshuoJanuaryRegular · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Yangshuo-forum threads on weather describe September as a genuinely strong shift from the sticky peak of summer, days still warm but noticeably more comfortable, and posters call this generally a sunny, favorable stretch overall. Regulars are consistent the karst scenery around the Li River and Yulong River looks its best under the clearer September skies, cycling and bamboo rafting both called genuinely pleasant once the heaviest summer humidity eases off. Posters recommend the back half of the month over the very start, conditions continuing to settle as the weeks go on. Regulars flag the National Day holiday stretch from September 30th through the first week of October as genuinely mobbed, worth avoiding for anyone prioritizing a quieter countryside visit. Rock climbing and river cycling are both named standout September activities given the milder conditions. The record: 30.7C days feeling like a punishing 34C, 23.3C nights, 77 percent humidity and 6.4 hours of sun.
YangshuoSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Yangshuo's card on the map.

Yangshuo climate normals — May

Daytime high27°C / 81°F🥵 hot
Nighttime low21°C / 70°F
Feels like (high)32°C / 90°F
Rainfall261 mm / 10.3 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days22 days
Humidity85%💦 very humid
Dew point21°C / 70°F
Sunshine6.6 h/day
Daylight13.3 h
Wind10 km/h / 6 mph
Air quality (US AQI)69🙂 moderate

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

Crowds in Yangshuo in May

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.

Shoulder seasonschool holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Yangshuo'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 weatherYangshuo's best weather comes in February, November and December — separate windows, not one continuous season.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Yangshuo in May

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

  • Season

    The heavy months

    15 Apr – 31 Aug · usuallyMonsoonRisk

    Guangxi's rain lands between April and August, May heaviest. The karst is greener and the river fuller for it, and the climbing is effectively off until the limestone dries.

  • Season

    Wet season

    MonsoonRisk

    22 rainy days and about 261 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in May →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Yangshuo — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Yangshuo?

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Yangshuo in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Yangshuo?
May in Yangshuo: hot, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 22 rainy days. It ranks #9 of 12 months for Yangshuo on SeasonMap's comfort score (55/100).
What is the weather like in Yangshuo in May?
In May, Yangshuo averages a daily high of 27.4°C and a low of 20.9°C, with about 261.3 mm of rain over roughly 22.3 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Yangshuo in May?
Yangshuo has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 69 in May.

Within 300 km: Guilin's Longji terraces under water around 20 Apr – 15 Jun.