A summary of the weather of Chengdu might read "an early spring, a hot summer, a cool autumn and a warm (relative to surrounding areas) winter".
The average mid-winter temperature (January is the coldest month) lies between 3–8°C (37–46°F), while the average summer temperature (July being the hottest month) lies between 22–29°C (72–84°F).
Sometimes likened to the city of London as regards the fog and the drizzly weather, Chengdu gets about 250–300 foggy, cloudy or rainy days each year.
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The Best Times to See Pandas in Chengdu
The best seasons: Spring and autumn are the best times to see giant pandas. They are lazy on hot days and like to cool off in air-conditioned rooms.
The best time of day: Morning is the best time to see giant pandas because this is when they are most active. You will probably see them climbing trees, playing on the ground, and eating at about 9:30 am.
The best time to see baby pandas: March to May is the "falling in love" period for pandas. If you visit Chengdu between late August and December, you will have a greater chance of seeing tiny newborns and cuddly babies in the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
For a unique panda experience that is not heavily affected by the weather, we are pleased to present our exclusive Panda Volunteer Program. In this program, you will have the opportunity to prepare panda-friendly meals, maintain clean panda enclosures, observe their feeding sessions, and receive an official volunteer certificate.
See the Top 4 Places to See Giant Pandas in Chengdu.
The Best Times for Families & Couples
The best times to visit Chengdu are during the periods from March to June (excluding the first week of May) and from September to November (excluding the first week of October).
From March to June, you can revel in the refreshing spring colors that envelop the city, while September to November offers pleasant temperatures. Additionally, this time frame guarantees fewer crowds.
However, for families traveling with school-age children, the summer months are the most popular choice. June, in particular, can be a quieter option during the summer holidays.
Don't let the summer rains and crowds deter you, though. Our Chengdu itinerary is thoughtfully designed to account for peak season crowds and not-so-ideal weather conditions. Arrange suitable activities such as Sichuan cooking classes, interesting face-changing performances, and visits to less crowded wild panda bases.
Regardless of the season you choose for your visit, rest assured that we will manage all logistical aspects, including transportation and accommodation, to provide you with a stress-free travel experience. Just contact us.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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12 Day Family Tour to the 4 Corners of China!
The activities were carefully picked, some of them were obvious like the things you have to see (Forbidden City, Great Wall, Panda bears...), but even these involved good choices by the guides of exactly where to go inside a massive site. We saw a lot of panda bears! The guides were super knowledgeable in the history and culture, and we learned so much more from their contribution than if we just went and looked at old (beautiful) buildings. ? more
Sep 2024, motif one
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Loved Chengdu with guide EVAN
Our guide Evan was excellent. He was knowledgeable about the places we visited in and around Chengdu, as well as about Chinese history and Buddhism. He was also adept at navigating the complexities of crowds, hot weather, and ticket lines. He knew the best places to go at the Panda center, so we saw a lot of pandas even on a hot day.He still remained in contact, helped us see a Sichuan opera, and offered useful advice to us. Evan was really top as a guide and just a great guy to hang out with, and thanks also to Ellen at China Highlights who expertly organized the whole tour. more
Sep 2024, motif o
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Fantastic tour from start to finish
Our guide, Fi Fi, was so much fun, so enthusiastic, so accommodating and packed so much into our limited time. She made the whole day special. more
Aug 2024, Keth
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Spring: Shoulder Season
Spring is from March to May. While winter can be cold and summer can get muggy, spring in Chengduisa happy medium, with average temperatures hovering between 10–20°C (50–70°F). Prepare shirts, thin sweaters, and a coat for the weather.
There are not too many tourists in Chengdu at this time. So you can enjoy a quieter environment to see pandas, start food hunting, etc.
It is also a good time to witness Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong in full of vigor. Remember that early May is especially busy due to the Labor Day holiday.
Summer: High Season
July and August are the hottest months in Chengdu, with average lows and highs of 22°C (70°F) and 30°C (85°F). Half of the annual rainfall is concentrated in July and August. Prepare summer clothes and an umbrella.
Vacationing families make the summer months one of the most popular times to visit Chengdu. Expect airfare and hotel rates to be at their peak and availability to below. Book 3 months in advance.
Some towns and villages in western and northern Sichuan areas are good places to escape the heat and the crowds. See the 9-Day Panoramas of Western Sichuan Tour
Jiuzhaigou Valley, Mt. Qingcheng, and Mt. Emei are also ideal places to escape the summer heat.
Autumn: Best Season
Autumn is from October to November. This is a season with sharp and frequent temperature changes. A few chilly days could be followed by relatively hot weather.
The average low and high temperatures are respectively 15°C (59°F) and 21°C (70°F) in October, and 9°C (50°F) and 16°C (61°F) in November. Prepare a shirt, sweater, and jacket to cope with the weather.
This is one of the best times of the year to visit Chengdu due to the comfortable weather and the drop in Chinese tourists.
The autumn scenes at Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong are among the most beautiful in China. See the best places to see fall foliage near Chengdu.
Winter: Low Season
Winter is from December to February. Chengdu is at its quietest during these cold winter months when it is usually cold, damp, and grey, with little rainfall.
The average low and high temperatures are around 2–10°C (36–49°F). It is good to enjoy hot pot on cold days. Prepare a sweater and down jacket for winter.
The drop in temperature means a drop in both airfare and hotel rates, which makes this a great time to visit the city if you're looking for a bargain and are not bothered by a little cold.
Pandas are also very active in winter. Xiling Snow Mountain and Bipenggou are great places for skiing.
Our Popular Chengdu Tours
All of our tours can be adjusted or customized based on your requirements. Just contact us if you have a good idea about what you want to do. You could also start from one of our popular itineraries including Chengdu:
- 13-Day Shanghai, Chengdu, Xian, Pingyao and Beijing
- 12-Day Beijing, Chengdu, Yangtze River Cruise, and Shanghai Tour
- 15-Day Kunming–Dali–Lijiang–Chengdu–Jiuzhaigou–Dunhuang–Jiayuguan
Chengdu Climate Information by Month
- Chengdu Weather in January
- Chengdu Weather in February
- Chengdu Weather in March
- Chengdu Weather in April
- Chengdu Weather in May
- Chengdu Weather in June
- Chengdu Weather in July
- Chengdu Weather in August
- Chengdu Weather in September
- Chengdu Weather in October
- Chengdu Weather in November
- Chengdu Weather in December