Is Kunming sunnier than Lijiang?

Lijiang is the sunnier: about 2,446 hours of sunshine a year versus 2,158 — a difference of 288 hours.

Which is warmer, Kunming or Lijiang?

Year-round daytime highs are similar: Kunming averages 21°C (70°F), Lijiang 21°C (70°F).

Which is better in winter (November–February), Kunming or Lijiang?

They are close in the November–February window: Kunming averages 54/100 (about 15°C days), Lijiang 53/100 (about 15°C).

Kunming vs Lijiang: which is sunnier?

🇨🇳 China vs 🇨🇳 China · 321 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Lijiang is the sunnier overall: about 2,446 hours of sunshine a year to Kunming's 2,158. Kunming has the higher Sunshine Score in 4 of 12 months, Lijiang in 3 (5 within 2 points).

Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.

At a glance

	Kunming	Lijiang
Sunshine hours / year	2,158	2,446
Sunniest month	March (88/100)	April (87/100)
Nov–Feb average score	54/100	53/100
Jun–Aug average score	64/100	67/100
Rain / year	848 mm	945 mm
Peak midday UV	10 (very high)	10 (very high)

Kunming vs Lijiang month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm
Month	Kunming	Lijiang	Kunming	Lijiang	Kunming	Lijiang
January	44	38	14°	13°	22	14
February	67	60	17°	16°	10	14
March	88	82	20°	19°	19	19
April	86	87	23°	22°	32	35
May	77	79	25°	25°	81	76
June	64	69	26°	26°	166	132
July	64	66	25°	26°	172	216
August	65	66	25°	25°	143	213
September	74	68	23°	23°	97	140
October	79	80	20°	21°	69	70
November	66	69	17°	17°	22	10
December	37	46	13°	14°	15	6

The sunnier month by month: Jan Kunming · Feb Kunming · Mar Kunming · Apr even · May even · Jun Lijiang · Jul even · Aug even · Sep Kunming · Oct even · Nov Lijiang · Dec Lijiang.

When to pick which

November–February: too close to call — Kunming averages 54/100, Lijiang 53/100. Daytime highs are similar (15°C vs 15°C). See the winter sun ranking.
March–May: too close to call — Kunming averages 84/100, Lijiang 83/100. Daytime highs are similar (23°C vs 22°C).
June–August: Lijiang (average score 67/100 vs 64). Daytime highs are similar (25°C vs 26°C).
September–October: Kunming (average score 77/100 vs 74). Daytime highs are similar (22°C vs 22°C).

Full month-by-month guides: Kunming weather by month · Lijiang weather by month · Best time to visit China.

More comparisons: Kunming vs Xingyi · Kunming vs Dali (Xiaguan) · Lijiang vs Baoshan (Longyang) · Lijiang vs Xichang · Lijiang vs Dali (Xiaguan) · all head-to-heads