Zhangjiajie in June

April through May delivers perfect weather and blooming azaleas that turn the mountains pink. Temperatures hover around 68°F and the infamous fog lifts by mid-morning most days. September through November brings the best visibility for photography, with crisp air and golden autumn colors. Winter gets overlooked but January snow transforms the pillars into a Chinese ink painting. Just bundle up because temperatures drop to 25°F at the peaks. Summer means crowds and humidity that makes the glass bridges slippery with condensation. Avoid Golden Week in early October when Chinese tourists pack the cable cars. The shoulder months of late April and early November offer the sweet spot of good weather and manageable crowds. Check the weather app obsessively because fog can roll in and obscure the views for days.