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Luoyang is worth visiting in every season, but the best time depends on what you want to see. April and May deliver the Peony Festival and mild weather, September and October bring the most comfortable sightseeing, and winter offers the lowest prices with few crowds. This guide breaks down each window with real temperatures and rainfall, and the Luoyang city guide ties it all together. For the month-by-month climate data, read our Luoyang weather by month page.
Best Time to Visit Luoyang: April and May (Peony Season)
April 10 to 25 is the single best window if you want to see the Peony Festival, which has run since 1983 and fills Wangcheng Park and the China National Flower Garden with over 1,400 peony varieties. April highs average 22°C (72°F) with 38 mm of rain, and May warms to 27°C (81°F). Book hotels 3 to 4 weeks ahead because this is Luoyang’s busiest period and rates rise by roughly a third. The events and festivals in Luoyang page lists the exact venues and dates.
Best Time to Visit Luoyang: September to November (Best Weather)
For comfortable outdoor sightseeing, September through early November is the pick. October averages a 21°C (70°F) high with clear skies and only 40 mm of rain, perfect for walking the Longmen Grottoes or the Old Town. Crowds are moderate and prices sit below the April peak. If you only have a few days, late September to mid October gives you warm afternoons without the summer humidity, and you can fit in most of the things to do in Luoyang list comfortably.
Best Time to Visit Luoyang: December to February (Lowest Prices)
Winter is the cheapest and quietest time. January highs are just 6°C (43°F) and hotel rates can fall 40% below the April peak, while the Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple have almost no queues. The trade-off is cold: nights drop to -3°C (27°F). If you want to stretch a budget and do not mind layering up, this is the window, and the where to stay in Luoyang guide has the best value options for these dates. Pack for the cold using our Luoyang travel tips checklist.
Best Time to Visit Luoyang: Months to Avoid
Avoid July and August if heat and humidity bother you: July hits a 32°C (90°F) high with 150 mm of rain over 12 rainy days, and summer also brings school-holiday crowds and the year’s highest prices. The stretch around the first week of October (National Day holiday) is also extremely crowded and expensive across China. Plan your Luoyang neighborhoods exploration for spring or autumn instead, when walking between districts is pleasant.
