December could be a good time to visit Yunnan as it offers a diverse range of landscapes. You could enjoy snow scenes, try skiing and hot springs, and also bask in mild weather and lush rainforests with plenty of sunshine.
Read on for our Yunnan in December travel tips.
Content Preview
Yunnan Weather in December
In December, average daily temperatures in Yunnan range from 4°C to 16°C (39– 61°F).
The weather in December in Yunnan is mostly clear, with little rainfall. Snowfall is expected in high-altitude areas, including Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Meili Snow Mountains.
Snow is generally rare in urban areas but Shangri-La, located at a high altitude, may experience snow.
- In northern cities like Lijiang, temperatures could drop to about 6°C (43°F), while in Shangri-La, they reach 0°C (32°F).
- In central cities, such as Dali and Kunming, temperatures typically range from 7°C to 9°C (45–48°F).
- In the southern region, Xishuangbanna remains mild, with a temperature of about 17°C (63°F).
Clothing suggestions: It is suggested to take warm clothes, such as coats and sweaters. For further north, such as Shangri-La, you may need a down jacket. If you go to Xishuangbanna, then just take light spring clothes and some T-shirts.
The Top 5 Places to Visit in Yunnan in December
Here, we have selected the top five places to visit in Yunnan in December for different winter scenery and experiences.
1. Dali
In December, Dali experiences relatively mild weather with temperatures ranging from 2°C to 15°C (36–59°F).
During clear and warm afternoons, you could cycle along the shores of Erhai Lake, enjoying the scenic views and stopping to feed flocks of seagulls that circle overhead.
Take a leisurely stroll through Dali Old Town and savor the local delicacies.
At midnight on New Year's Eve, Dali Old Town hosts a fireworks display, with people gathering in the town to count down together and wish each other a happy New Year.
You could also watch the fireworks by Erhai Lake, but the atmosphere in Dali Old Town would be livelier.
2. Lijiang
Lijiang is located further north, with December temperatures typically ranging from 0°C to 14°C (32–57°F).
Winter is the best time to enjoy the snow scenery on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as there is less snow on the mountaintop during the summer.
If you're planning to spend New Year's Eve in Lijiang, consider going to Lijiang Old Town where a countdown event takes place, complete with fireworks at midnight and lively dancing around bonfires.
If you plan to celebrate New Year's Eve in Lijiang Old Town, it's recommended to book a hotel within or near Lijiang Old Town in advance.
After the celebration, there would be large crowds, making it difficult to find transportation, so staying nearby would allow you to walk conveniently.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain3. Kunming
In December, temperatures in Kunming range from 4°C to 15°C (39–59°F). While it typically doesn't snow in the city, Jiaozi Snow Mountain, located about a 2½-hour drive away, is ideal for skiing and enjoying snowy landscapes.
At Jiaozi Snow Mountain, you could participate in various winter activities, such as skiing and snow hiking, with the ski area being particularly suitable for beginners.
The mountain's stunning natural scenery is also perfect for photography enthusiasts. You could also choose to take a cable car ride to fully appreciate the panoramic views from the snow-covered mountain.
Recommended Yunnan Tours
You could also contact us to make your own trip based on your travel time and requirements.
4. Tengchong
Ginkgo VillageTengchong is renowned for its hot springs and the cold weather in December makes soaking in hot springs even more enjoyable.
Based on the quality of the hot springs, the surrounding scenery, and their popularity, we recommend the following four hot springs:
- Angsana Spa Tengchong Hot Spring Village: A high-end hot spring with well-maintained facilities, ideal for families with children or elderly members.
- Lotus Hot Spring Resort: A more natural setting, with 90% of the hot spring pool surrounded by forest, giving the feeling of being immersed in nature. It offers a more rustic experience with great value for money.
- Bolian Resort & Spa: Another high-end option, located near Heshun Ancient Town, making it perfect for relaxation after exploring the town.
- The Rehai Hot Springs: Situated within the Rehai Scenic Area, these are some of the few hot springs in Tengchong with sulfur pools (that are beneficial for the skin). However, they tend to be more crowded with tour groups so privacy might be limited.
In addition to hot springs, you could visit Ginkgo Village. The best time to see the beautiful yellow leaves is from mid-November to early December.
You could also explore Tengchong Volcanic Geopark, China's largest natural museum of dormant volcanoes. There, you could experience a hot-air balloon ride or hike up the mountains to enjoy the breathtaking volcanic scenery.
5. The Yuanyang Rice Terraces
Yuanyang Rice FieldsDecember is one of the best times to visit the Yuanyang Rice Terraces. During this period, before the rice is planted, the water-filled terraces reflect the blue sky and the colors of sunrise and sunset, creating a stunning multicolored landscape.
You could enjoy the sunrise at Duoyishu Village and then hike from Duoyishu to Azheke, which is more authentic and less touristy.
Laohuzui Terraced Field Scenic Area is the best place for a sunset.
In Yuanyang, besides admiring the terraces, you could also visit the local markets and explore Hani villages to experience the unique local culture.
Crowds and Costs
For most of December, Yunnan is in its off-season, allowing you to enjoy quieter attractions without worrying about crowds in your photos. Hotel prices are more affordable. Early to mid-December is the ideal time to visit.
However, keep in mind that China's peak travel seasons are usually tied to holidays, so toward the end of December during the New Year's holiday, there would be more tourists and hotel prices would rise accordingly.
Recommended Yunnan Tours in December
- 7-Day Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang Winter Tour
- 6-Day Jianshui and Yuanyang Terraced Fields Tour
- Check out more Yunnan tours
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
|
|
Unforgettable Yunnan
We did not know what to expect as this was as our first trip to China - we are into the outdoors so we picked Yunnan as a destination, as it was knownfor its scenic beauty. We had heard about China’s progress in the past 30 years, but that did not prepare us for the amazing infrastructure, the excellence of telecommunications what is essentially a remote part of China- Imagine perfectly paved mountain roads with not a single pothole and 5G signal even in the most unlikely of places - mountain tops, deep gorges etc . The tour destinations and highlights were amazing. Just when we thought we had reached the height of our tour the next day gave us more jaw dropping sights. We have traveled a lot all over the globe, but we must say this trip gave us the biggest bang for the buck in our experience Our tour organizer, China Highlights was great. - ours was a private tour, just the two of us - the car was comfortable and everything ran like clockwork. Every tour guide we had on each part of our tour deserve special mention: May from Kunming, Scarlett from Dali, Eleanor from Lijiang and Anna from Shangri-La displayed passion, knowledge and dedication to their role. They were motivated good natured, humorous, and anticipated our every need. They were always concerned about our comfort and satisfaction. Our Driver Mr. Wang who drove us from Dali to Shangri-La, was safe and steady. Given the wonderful service that we received from these individuals and from China Highlights, we are already planning our next trip to China within the next few months. China, we love you and wish we had discovered you sooner! more
Apr 2025, John Chang Kheng Choi
|
Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la
We booked a 9-day tour of Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la with China Highlights in late March with Leeky. We are very well taken care of by our guides: Lulu in Kunming, Scarlett in Dali, Martin in Lijiang, and Betsy in Shangri-la. All our guides are local people, which is a great advantage for their local knowledge. Be it local history, customs, food and shopping tips. This trip started in Kunming which is a mile high city and ascended higher and higher. Those who are not familiar with high altitude will be better off listening carefully to their advices. Special shout out to Scarlett, our guide in Dali who went out of her way to take care of us even after we moved on to another city.. She had very good burgers delivered to our hotel when we did not want to venture out for dinner. Hotels selected by China Highlights are all fine. Breakfasts at the hotels are all good, especially if you like Chinese breakfast. We think veggies and chicken meat are much tastier than back home. Late March could be colder than forecast at times. While we were there, most flower blooms were pinkish. Cherry blossoms are at their peak together with crabapples. At Kunming Botanical Garden, there are more flower varieties to see. It’s off the beaten track however, accessible using the Didi app. It’s not crowded and it is very pleasant to walk there. Allow 2 hours for walking around. more
Apr 2025, Chet C
|
Very good experience in Dali - Thanks to Frank!
Dali is a beautiful ancient town. We visited Er Hai 洱海, a huge lake. It was really scenic. Our guide, Frank, got us to walk along the lake. It was beautifully breathtaking. Frank filled us with a lot of interesting information about the place. We also learnt much about the culture of the land - the minority tribes, of which he belonged to one of them - Bai. Like us, Frank was a foodie and his recommendations were excellent, too. We also enjoyed our stay at Shaxi, a quaint ancient town in Dali, despite the fact that it was a little too commercialised. Nonetheless, it has many scenic places. Our trip would not have been that meaningful had not for Frank. Thank you, Frank! I think this private tour by China Highlights is a really enjoyable one. more
Apr 2025, NinoNing
|