Things to Do in Yunnan in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Yunnan
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Absolutely brilliant weather for hiking and outdoor exploration - daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) mean you can tackle Tiger Leaping Gorge or the Stone Forest without overheating, and the air quality in December is typically excellent with clear blue skies that make for stunning photography
- Peak season for Yunnan's famous camellia blooms in Dali and around Kunming - the province is literally carpeted in flowers while most of China is frozen solid, and you'll see locals selling fresh camellias by the roadside for ridiculously cheap prices
- Significantly fewer domestic tourists compared to October Golden Week or Chinese New Year - you'll actually get decent photos at popular spots like Lijiang Old Town without battling crowds, and accommodation prices drop 30-40% from peak season rates
- Perfect timing for Yunnan's winter mushroom season - markets overflow with matsutake, morels, and truffle varieties that restaurants turn into hotpots and stir-fries, and December is when locals traditionally gather for mushroom feasts before the dry season really kicks in
Considerations
- Mornings are genuinely cold at 8°C (46°F), especially at altitude - Shangri-La and Lijiang can drop below freezing overnight, which catches first-time visitors off guard who assume Yunnan is tropical year-round, and you'll need proper layering for early temple visits
- The 11-degree temperature swing between morning and afternoon means you're constantly adjusting what you're wearing - locals joke that Yunnan has four seasons in one day, and in December this is particularly pronounced, making packing more complicated than you'd expect
- Some higher-altitude attractions like Pudacuo National Park near Shangri-La might have restricted access or frozen lakes - the park doesn't officially close but the scenery loses its luster when everything's brown and dormant, and the 4,000 m (13,123 ft) altitude feels harsher in winter cold
Best Activities in December
Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking
December is actually ideal for this famous two-day hike - the 19°C (66°F) daytime temperatures mean you won't overheat on the steep sections, and the reduced rainfall makes the high trail safer than during summer monsoon season. The Jinsha River below runs crystal clear, and you'll encounter maybe a dozen other hikers instead of the summer crowds. The 28 switchbacks up from Nuoyu Village are still brutal, but at least you're not doing them in 30°C (86°F) heat. Worth noting that guesthouses along the trail stay open year-round, though some reduce their meal options in low season.
Kunming and Dali Camellia Garden Tours
December through February is the only time to see Yunnan's legendary camellia blooms, and locals consider this the province's most beautiful season. The Kunming Botanical Garden and Black Dragon Pool in Lijiang have ancient camellia trees - some over 500 years old - absolutely covered in blooms. The flowers are massive, some 15 cm (6 inches) across, in varieties you won't see anywhere else. Temperature-wise, wandering these gardens in 19°C (66°F) sunshine is perfect. The UV index of 8 is surprisingly strong at 1,890 m (6,200 ft) altitude, so you'll want sunscreen even though it doesn't feel that hot.
Yuanyang Rice Terrace Photography
December is when serious photographers descend on Yuanyang - the terraces are flooded for winter planting, creating those mirror-like reflections that make the area famous. Sunrise at Duoyishu viewpoint around 7:30 AM means you're standing in 8°C (46°F) cold with 70% humidity creating mist that rolls through the terraces, which is either magical or miserable depending on your tolerance for pre-dawn cold. The light in December tends to be crisp and clear, and you'll be sharing viewpoints with maybe 20-30 other photographers instead of the 200+ during Chinese New Year. The terraces are about 1,800 m (5,905 ft) elevation, so the temperature swing is dramatic.
Lijiang Ancient Town and Baisha Village Cultural Exploration
The December weather makes wandering Lijiang's cobblestone streets actually pleasant - summer is too hot and rainy, winter is too cold, but December hits that sweet spot. The town sits at 2,400 m (7,874 ft), so despite 19°C (66°F) afternoon temperatures, you'll want layers for morning and evening. December sees fewer domestic tour groups, meaning you can actually hear the water channels flowing through the old town instead of competing with megaphone-wielding guides. Baisha Village, 10 km (6.2 miles) north, has incredible Ming Dynasty frescoes and feels genuinely quiet in December. The Naxi Dongba cultural demonstrations and traditional embroidery workshops are year-round but less crowded now.
Dali Old Town Cycling and Erhai Lake Loop
The 100 km (62 mile) Erhai Lake loop is Yunnan's most popular cycling route, and December weather is near-perfect for it - not too hot, minimal rain, and clear views of the Cangshan Mountains. Most people take two days, staying overnight in Shuanglang village on the eastern shore. The lakeside path is mostly flat, and the 19°C (66°F) temperatures mean you're comfortable in a light long-sleeve jersey. December wind off the lake can be brisk in the afternoon, and the 2,000 m (6,562 ft) altitude means the UV index of 8 will burn you faster than you expect. The camellia trees around the lake are starting to bloom, and you'll pass Bai minority villages where locals are harvesting winter vegetables.
Xishuangbanna Tropical Markets and Dai Village Experiences
If the cold mornings elsewhere in Yunnan bother you, Xishuangbanna in the south stays genuinely warm year-round - December temperatures there run 22-28°C (72-82°F). It's Yunnan's only tropical region, and the Sunday market in Menghan is extraordinary - piles of tropical fruits you won't recognize, insects being sold as snacks, and Dai minority textiles. December is after the rainy season but before Chinese New Year crowds, so you get the best of both worlds. The Wild Elephant Valley and Tropical Botanical Garden are less crowded, and the weather is perfect for the 2-3 hours of walking each requires. The area sits at just 500 m (1,640 ft) elevation, so none of the altitude issues you get elsewhere in Yunnan.
December Events & Festivals
Kunming Camellia Festival
This month-long celebration typically runs from late December through January at various parks around Kunming, with the Golden Temple and Black Dragon Pool as main venues. You'll see camellia exhibitions, traditional tea ceremonies, and locals gathering for flower-viewing picnics. It's not a single-day event but rather a cultural season when the city celebrates its signature flower. Entrance to venues is usually 20-30 CNY, and the festival coincides with the actual bloom period so the flowers are genuinely spectacular.
Winter Solstice Celebrations in Lijiang
The Naxi minority in Lijiang traditionally celebrates winter solstice (around December 21) with family gatherings and specific foods - particularly rice cakes and glutinous rice balls. It's not a tourist event per se, but guesthouses often prepare traditional meals and some families open their homes for cultural exchange dinners. The Dongba priests sometimes perform ceremonies at Black Dragon Pool. This is more about observing local culture than attending a festival, but it gives texture to visiting Lijiang in late December.