Yunnan's varied and diverse climate means that, while Kunming enjoys pleasant spring-like weather for most of the year, the elevated eastern plateau experiences warm summers and mild winters, and the climate can change substantially during a journey of just a few kilometres.

To the west, the valley floors and lower slopes of this mountainous area enjoy warm humid weather, while a temperate zone stands between 2,000 to 3,000 metres, and ice and snow envelop the high summits. Monsoons off the Pacific and Indian oceans provide adequate rainfall, with May through October the wettest months.

The following chart outlines the basic facts for each month. At the bottom of the page is a special graph for Kinming as this is the major city.