When to visit Chengdu

The best times of year to visit Chengdu are from March to June, before the heat and humidity of summer descends,  and from September to November, when the weather cools and the flora begins to change color and fall.

July and August are the hottest months in Chengdu, but nearby Qingcheng Mountain, Xiling Snow Mountain, and Longchi Forest Park are ideal places to escaping the summer heat.

Summer in Chengdu is humid with temperature cooling off only slightly in early morning and evening. However, it is the best season to see the cudly giant pandas at the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center. 

January is the coldest month of the year, with an average temperature of 5.6 C (42.1 F). However, due to the clouds, infrequent sunlight, and damp weather, it can feel much colded. The crisp winter weather is the best for visiting picturesque Jiuzhaigou Valley.

The Sichuan Basin where Chengdu resides has a subtropical monsoon climate, resulting in an average annual temperature of around 16 C (61 F), with distinctive humidity, and fog and very little direct sunlight. The summer tends to be the “rainy” season with a lot of rain in the months of July and August, with very little rain during the rest of the year. 

There are also holiday and festivals to consider when planning a visit. In addition to traditional Chinese festivals such as Spring Festival, International Labor Day, and Chinese National Day, Chengdu has its own festivals such as the Lantern Festival. Held in Chengdu’s Qingyang Palace, the festival is held once a year around the Spring Festival and features Sichuan folk opera, acrobatics, and other performances.

During Flower Festival, a popular Spring event, flower growers carry their flowers and exotic plants to the city for exhibition and sale. During the Sweet-scented Osmanthus Festival held in Xindu, Chengdu every September and October, large numbers of tourists will crowd to this small town in Chengdu’s suburbs to see the entire place adorned with beautiful and aromatic Osmanthus flowers. Some other festivals, such as the Dragon Boat Festival, Peach Meeting, and Water Splashing Festival, are also worth seeing.