Honghe Travel Weather and Climate in May

Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture (红河哈尼族彝族自治州) is located in the southern part of Yunnan Province, China, bordering Vietnam. As a key hub on the ancient Southern Silk Road, it boasts both cultural depth and geographical significance. The region is best known for the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces (红河哈尼梯田), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for their breathtaking landscapes and vibrant ethnic traditions that change with the seasons. Home to diverse ethnic groups such as the Hani, Yi, Miao, and Yao, Honghe is rich in traditional festivals and folk culture. It also features historic and scenic destinations including Jianshui Ancient City (建水古城), Yuanyang Terraces (元阳梯田), and Bisezhai Station (碧色寨) in Mengzi (蒙自), making it an ideal destination for in-depth travel and cultural exploration.

Honghe, Yunnan – Daily Average Temperature in May

May Weather Snapshot

• Average daily mean: 24–26 °C; highs 30–34 °C, lows 16–19 °C.

• Rainfall: 180–220 mm, mostly short afternoon downpours followed by cool breezes.

• Packing tip: light layers, sun-hat, quick-dry shirt, and a compact umbrella.

Signature May Festivals

Kaiyangmen & Yang’ana Culture Week – 1–5 May, Honghe County (红河县)

“Kaiyangmen” (开秧门) is the Hani (哈尼族) people’s ritual that marks the start of paddy-planting season. Villagers in indigo costumes chant blessings, then invite visitors to plant the first green shoots.

“Yang’ana” (央阿娜节, Girls’ Day) follows: featuring a hillside fashion parade, antiphonal love songs, and the renowned 10,000-person “Lezuo Dance” (勒作舞) along Lotus Avenue (荷花大道).

Flower Dream Music Festival – 2 May, Kaiyuan Sports Centre (开远体育中心)

An open-air concert featuring pop singers Hailai Amu (海来阿木) and Zhuang Xinyan (庄心妍), held against the scenic jacaranda-lined streets.

Shiping Bayberry Festival – 26 Apr – 5 May, Shiping (石屏)

Pick ruby bayberries fresh from the orchard and sip bayberry wine in the 600-year-old Shiping Old Town (石屏古城).

Must-See May Attractions

Honghe Hani Rice Terraces (红河哈尼梯田)

Newly flooded mirror-like paddies ideal for sunrise photography, especially from Duoyishu (多依树) and Bada (坝达) viewpoints.

Jianshui Ancient City (建水古城)

A one-hour drive south; explore the 13th-century Confucian Temple (文庙) and the Zhu Family Garden (朱家花园), beautifully lit with evening lanterns.

Mile Taiping Lake (弥勒太平湖)

Vast sunflower fields bloom from 1–5 May. Watch kite-flying teams from eight provinces perform a sky ballet over the golden sea.

Kaiyuan South Cave Scenic Area (开远南洞景区)

Cool limestone caverns and a heritage narrow-gauge train weaving through sugarcane fields.

Yisa Ancient Town (衣沙古镇)

A lesser-known Qing-era trading post where caravan stories still echo in century-old teahouses.

Seasonal May Flavours

Hani Long-Table Banquet (哈尼长街宴)

Held on 100 linked bamboo tables: includes terraced-field fish steamed in banana leaf, purple sticky rice cakes, and the iconic “dipping-water chicken” (蘸水鸡) served with a 12-herb sauce.

Terraced-Field Snail Stir-fry (梯田螺炒)

Freshwater snails collected after the first irrigation, wok-tossed with lemongrass and chili.

Shiping Tofu Banquet (石屏豆腐宴) – 3 May

A feast of 100 tofu dishes in Shiping Old Town. Must-tries include aromatic “Old-Mother Tofu” (老母豆腐) and tofu-skin spring rolls.

Bayberry-infused Ice Cream (杨梅冰淇淋)

A refreshing treat sold from pop-up carts during the Shiping festival.