Best Time: October-December. Dry, sunny, comfortable temperatures (18-25°C). Perfect for hiking and outdoor activities. Highest prices.
Good Time: January-March. Cool and dry. Chinese New Year (late Jan/early Feb) is festive but crowded and expensive. Book 3+ months ahead.
Avoid: June-September. Typhoon season, extreme heat (32°C+), oppressive humidity (80-90%). Daily rain showers. Everything is air-conditioned to arctic levels.
Budget Travel: April-May or September. Shoulder season with lower prices but increasing humidity and rain. Still good for city exploration.
Festivals: Chinese New Year (biggest), Dragon Boat Festival (June), Mid-Autumn Festival (September), Christmas lights (December).
Typhoons: Tropical cyclones hit June-October. Typhoon signal system: T1 (be aware), T3 (stay indoors), T8+ (everything shuts down). Hotels stay open. Can be exciting.
Pro Tip: November has clear skies, low humidity, perfect temperatures, and lower prices than October. The secret best month.