Changsha Holiday Weather Overview
Changsha is the capital of the Hunan province and is also the largest city in the province. It can be found in the south-central region of China on a branch of the Yangtze River, the Xiang River.
Changsha has been an important city in China since the Qin Dynasty and was the site of many of the major battle in the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-45 and was very briefly occupied by Japan.
Food in Changsha
Changsha has lots of different restaurants and cafes that serve a variety of different foods. Whilst visiting Changsha you should take the opportunity to sample the local style of Chinese cuisine, Hunan. There are plenty of restaurants that offer the local fare including Big Cupboard, Chopsticks Xiaoxiang, Tribes of Western Hunan, West Lake Property and the Juanjuan Restaurant.
Street food is another type of cuisine that is extremely popular in Changsha with places such as the Fire Palace (51), the Fire Palace (Dongtang), the Huatian Restaurant Food Plaza and Rosa Taipei Soybean Milk.
If you would prefer to dine in a more western setting there are some chains like pizza hut and other international based food options available.
Best places to stay in Changsha
Changsha is a city that has many established chains of hotels from around the world such as the Sheraton Changsha Hotel and the Crowne Plaza Changsha City Centre, if you have had bad experiences staying in independent hotels or local hotel chains then these are the perfect way to ensure you get what you expect and are paying for.
If you feel more adventurous then there are lots of different hotels to choose from in Changsha from Zidongge Huatian Hotel to the Jinjiang Inn to the Mingcheng International Hotel.
Things to see and do in Changsha
Changsha has a lot of attractions that show off not only the great heritage of the city but also its great natural beauty.
If you want to learn more about the rich heritage and history of the ancient city of Changsha then there are places such as the Tianxin Tower, Leishi Park Monument, the Changsha Museum, the Hunan Provincial Museum, the Yuelu Academy and the Changsha Bamboo Slips Museum that can help you to discover the past behind the modern city of Changsha.
However if the historical areas of Changsha are not of any interest to you then you might want to explore the natural beauty of the city through the Hunan Forest Botanical Garden, the Xiaoyuan Park, the Changsha Nanjiao Park and the Martyr’s Park.
Best month to visit Changsha
As the summer and winter have such extremes in temperature and periods of rather unpleasant weather the best time to visit Changsha is during the spring or the autumn. The weather is mild enough that it shouldn’t cause too many problems for those who don’t cope well with humidity.
Changsha is a city that has four seasons though the most distinctive periods of weather in Changsha are summer and winter. Summers in Changsha are hot and have high levels of humidity whereas winters are cold, dark and extremely foggy.
Summer in Changsha
The temperatures in summer often reach an average high of 35 degrees Celsius with very high levels of humidity. This can make days and nights in Changsha very difficult to cope with for those who struggle with humidity or are not used to the heat. The summer period for Changsha begins around mid-May and ends with August. Due to the humidity Changsha can be subject to sudden downpours and storms in the afternoons.
Winter in Changsha
Like the northern Chinese cities, Changsha can suffer from some extremely cold winters with temperatures feeling much colder than the average low temperature of 5 degrees Celsius. Winter begins in November, the days are short and heavy fogs (due to the Xiangjing River) mean that the amount of sunlight in the city is somewhat limited.
Autumn in Changsha
Autumn comes to Changsha during September and ends in early November. The temperatures are still fairly warm within the city with an average range of between 15 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius. The humidity is also lower so though there is still a chance of rain, the chance of unexpected storms is much lower than during the summer.
Spring in Changsha
Spring, like autumn, enjoys warm temperatures of between 15 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius and has a low level of humidity compared to the summer months. The winter fogs clear away to make way for the sun and rainfall is fairly predictable during the season.
What to pack and wear in Changsha?
Clothing for Changsha depends on the season in which you visit the city. Though in the summer you will be fine with light clothing, there are no heaters in the buildings of Changsha so bringing warm clothing for the cooler evenings of spring and autumn and thick, warm clothing for the winter is advisable. Due to the heavy amount of rainfall in the summer and downpours in spring and autumn bringing a waterproof and an umbrella is a wise precaution.
Best months to visit Changsha?
April and October are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Changsha. The weather averages gathered from Changsha weather forecast and Changsha weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 23°c and average of 118.6 hours of sunshine in a month.
Coldest months of Changsha?
January and December are the coldest months with temperature at around 4°c.
Which months receive most rainfall in Changsha?
June and May receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 345.74mm.
Travelling to Changsha? Check out our Weather averages of Changsha to better plan your holiday or travel.
If you would just like to know what the weather was for a past dates for research or education or you are just curious then visit our historical weather of Changsha section.