Things to Do in Yunnan in October
October weather, activities, events & insider tips
October Weather in Yunnan
Is October Right for You?
Advantages
- Golden Week crowds are gone by mid-October - you'll find Lijiang's Old Town and Dali's ancient streets pleasantly quiet after the October 1-7 national holiday chaos ends. Hotel prices drop 30-40% compared to early October, and you can actually get photos at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain without crowds.
- Peak autumn color hits the mountains - the ginkgo forests in Tengchong turn brilliant yellow around October 20-25, and the rice terraces in Yuanyang shift to golden pre-harvest hues. The temperature range of 15-24°C (59-75°F) makes hiking comfortable without the summer heat.
- Harvest season brings incredible food - fresh matsutake mushrooms flood the markets (prices drop to ¥200-300 per 500g from summer's ¥500+), and you'll find wild truffles, fresh walnuts, and seasonal persimmons everywhere. October is when Yunnan's farm-to-table scene actually peaks.
- Stable weather window before winter - October sits in that sweet spot after monsoon season ends (September) but before the dry cold sets in (November). Those 10 rainy days are typically brief afternoon showers lasting 20-30 minutes, not the all-day soakers you get in summer. UV index of 8 means strong sun at altitude but nothing like the brutal summer intensity.
Considerations
- Temperature swings are significant - that 9°C (16°F) daily range means you're wearing a t-shirt at 2pm and a fleece jacket by 7pm. Mornings in Shangri-La can hit 5°C (41°F) while afternoons reach 20°C (68°F). Layering becomes essential, and many first-timers underpack warm clothes.
- Shoulder season means inconsistent service - some guesthouses in smaller towns like Shaxi or Cizhong reduce staff or close for renovations between peak seasons. Tour operators have fewer daily departures, so you'll need more flexibility in your schedule. Not everything runs daily like it does in high season.
- Altitude issues don't care about nice weather - Shangri-La sits at 3,280 m (10,760 ft) and Lijiang at 2,400 m (7,874 ft). October's lower humidity actually makes altitude sickness slightly more common because people push harder in the comfortable temperatures. You still need 2-3 days to acclimatize properly.
Best Activities in October
Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photography Tours
October brings the golden pre-harvest glow to the Hani rice terraces - the water is drained and rice turns amber, creating completely different colors than the famous water-mirror season in winter. Sunrise at Duoyishu viewpoint happens around 7am with temperatures at 12°C (54°F), so you'll need layers but won't be freezing like in January. The 70% humidity creates morning mist that burns off by 9am, giving you that ethereal effect photographers chase. Fewer tour groups than spring or winter means you can actually set up a tripod without fighting for space.
Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking
The high trail through Tiger Leaping Gorge is absolutely perfect in October - the 24°C (75°F) afternoon highs make the steep sections manageable, and the monsoon rains have stopped so the trail is dry and stable. You're hiking at 2,400-2,800 m (7,874-9,186 ft) elevation with massive temperature drops after sunset, but daytime conditions are ideal. The Jinsha River below runs clear rather than the muddy brown of summer, and you can actually see the rapids. Most hikers do the 22 km (13.7 mile) high trail in two days with an overnight at Halfway Guesthouse.
Tengchong Hot Springs and Volcano Hiking
Tengchong's volcanic landscape is spectacular in October when the ginkgo trees start turning yellow and temperatures sit in that perfect 18-24°C (64-75°F) range for hiking. The dormant volcanoes like Dakong Mountain have trails through autumn foliage, and afterward you can soak in the geothermal hot springs at places around Rehai Scenic Area. The combination of moderate exercise and natural hot springs works perfectly in October's mild weather - not too hot for hiking, not too cold for outdoor pools. The area sees way fewer tourists than Dali or Lijiang.
Lijiang Old Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Day Trips
October is when Jade Dragon Snow Mountain actually cooperates - the cable car to 4,506 m (14,783 ft) runs reliably without summer thunderstorm closures or winter ice issues. The mountain often has fresh snow on top by late October, making for dramatic photos, while the base elevation stays comfortable at 15-20°C (59-68°F). Lijiang Old Town itself is pleasant to wander in October evenings without summer's tourist crush or winter's freezing nights. The Naxi minority culture is on full display with harvest celebrations and traditional music performances ramping up.
Dali Ancient Town Cycling and Erhai Lake Routes
The 120 km (75 mile) loop around Erhai Lake is Yunnan's most popular cycling route, and October offers ideal conditions - dry roads, 20-24°C (68-75°F) temperatures, and clear views across the water to Cangshan Mountains. Most cyclists take 2-3 days doing 40-50 km (25-31 miles) per day, stopping in villages like Xizhou and Shuanglang. The harvest season means you're cycling past golden rice fields and can stop at farms selling fresh produce. E-bikes make this accessible for non-cyclists, taking the elevation changes out of the equation.
Kunming Stone Forest and Dongchuan Red Land Photography
Kunming's Stone Forest is a year-round attraction, but October combines good weather with the autumn colors at Dongchuan Red Land about 250 km (155 miles) northeast. The red soil fields get planted with different crops creating patchwork colors - buckwheat flowers, potatoes, and winter wheat. The 15-24°C (59-75°F) temperature range makes exploring the Stone Forest's walking paths comfortable, and October sees moderate crowds. Kunming itself sits at 1,890 m (6,201 ft) so it's a good acclimatization stop before heading to higher elevations.
October Events & Festivals
Torch Festival Aftermath and Harvest Celebrations
While the main Torch Festival happens in late July or August, many Yi and Bai villages continue harvest celebrations through October with smaller local festivals. You'll find village gatherings with traditional dancing, wrestling competitions, and massive communal meals. These aren't organized tourist events - you stumble into them by being in the right village at the right time. Ask guesthouse owners in areas like Weishan or around Erhai Lake about local celebrations happening during your visit.
Matsutake Mushroom Season Peak
Not a festival but a genuine seasonal event - October is peak matsutake season in Shangri-La and Lijiang markets. The prized mushrooms flood in from the mountains and prices drop to reasonable levels. Markets like Zhongyi Market in Shangri-La have entire sections dedicated to wild mushrooms. Restaurants offer special matsutake menus, and you can join mushroom foraging tours in the forests around Pudacuo National Park. This is the food event of the year in northwest Yunnan.