Chengdu Climate & Weather

 

Brief Information

The weather in the mountainous region is icy cold, but clear, which contrasts almost diametrically with the neighbouring mild, humid, and often overcast or outright foggy, weather of the Chengdu Plain to the east that characterizes the city of Chengdu; sometimes likened to the city of London as regards the fog and the drizzly weather. For example, Chengdu gets about 250-300 foggy, cloudy or rainy days each year. An old saying, describing the weather of Chengdu, mocks the infrequency of sunshine: ‘Shu dogs bark at the sight of the sun'.

 

Climate

Chengdu, situated in the Sichuan Basin, has a subtropical monsoon climate.

 

It is warm and wet all year. The annual temperature averages 16°C. To summarize the climate of Chengdu, it has “an early Spring, hot Summer, cool Autumn and relatively warm Winter”. It is very misty all year, and the sunny days are few.

 

The temperature is not so high in Summer, but it is very muggy because of the high humidity. The temperature is generally above 5°C during Winter, but is usually very cloudy and humid.

 

So being neither too hot in Summer nor too cold in Winter, the whole year is suitable for tourists.

 

Climate Data Table for Chengdu

 

 

Tips for Chengdu Weather

March to June; September to November.

 

July and August are the hottest time in Chengdu. However, it is cool in the Qingcheng Mountain (20 km southwest to Dujiangyan City), Jiulong Gou (northwest of Congzhou City), Jiufeng Mountain (located in Pengzhou City), Tiantai Mountain (in Qionglai City, 120 km from Chengdu) and Longchi Forest Park (northwest to Dujiangyan City), where it is very nice to spend the summer. It is also a good choice to visit Xiling Snowy Mountain (in Dayi County, 105 km from Chengdu) and Longchi Forest Park in winter.

 

It often rains in Chengdu. Tourists are advised to carry umbrellas.

 

Try to plan your Chengdu tour by avoiding the peak holidays. Because of the popularity of Chengdu and Pandas for Chinese tourists, those attractions become more crowded in these periods.

 

The most crowded seasons in China are Chinese Spring Festival (usually in late Jan or early Feb.), International Labour Day (May 01 to 03) and National Day (Oct 01-07). Spring Festival and the National Day golden week are the most crowded time for travelling.