Chengdu Holiday Weather Overview
Chengdu, formerly Chengtu, is the province capital of Sichuan and can be found in the south west region of China. Chengdu is one of the most important areas of western China when it comes to the economy, transport and communication.
Food in Chengdu
As you would expect to find in the Sichuan province there are some amazing restaurants that serve local cuisine in Chengdu as well as a variety of international themes such as Italian and American.
For those who are looking for traditional Szechuan cooking then there are restaurants such as Xiaojing Sifangcai, Din Tai Fung, Chenmapo DouFu, Chenmapo beancurd and South Beauty to choose from.
If you are looking to experiment slightly then you might was to try Chinese Hotpot, the cuisine type that can be found in many different restaurants in Chengdu that include Wonderful Hot Pot, Shu Nine Incense Pot Restaurant, Spicy Space Hotpot, Jincheng Impression, Chongqing Cygnet Hotpot and Minsan Bean Fishing.
However if you are not a fan of the different types of Chinese cooking then there are places such as Mike’s Pizza kitchen, the Lazy Pug, Nuhi’s Original Deli and the Spot that all serve a much more westernised menu.
Best places to stay in Chengdu
Chengdu has lots of different places to stay whilst visiting the city that range from hotels, to inns and plenty of interesting speciality lodgings so that there really is somewhere to stay that will please everyone.
When it comes to hotels you can choose to stay in the more traditional style of hotel such as the BuddhaZen Hotel, the Millennium Hotel Chengdu, the Crowne Plaza Chengdu Panda Garden or the Shangri-La Hotel Chengdu; however you may find that you want the space and privacy of an apartment with the facilities of a hotel. In that case there are places such as the Fraser Suites Chengdu that are ideal.
For those who are looking for a hostel or inn to stay at whilst visiting Chengdu there are lots of them out there to choose from including the We Weikongjian Hostel, the She Home, the Loft Design Hostel, Folk In, Cici’s House, Jinli Hostel, Tongxingwu Inn and the Complex International Hotel.
There are also lots of youth hostels in Chengdu for those who are backpacking round the country. Hello Chengdu International Youth Hostel, Chengdu Lazy Bones Backpackers Boutique Hostel, Dreams Travel International Youth Hostel and Traffic Inn are just a small number of the wide range that you can choose from.
Things to do and see in Chengdu
Chengdu is one of the few places in the world that you can see giant pandas, red pandas and interact with them if you decide to visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Not only do you get to glimpse the extremely rare creature, but you can gain an insight into the work that is going to try and save the species from extinction.
Though pandas are not the only thing to see when visiting Chengdu there are lots of religious sites such as Mount Qincheng and the Wenshu Yuan Monastery, historical sites such as the Jinsha Site Museum, the Kuanzhai Ancient Street of Qing Dynasty and the Sichuan Museum and beauty spots like Wangjianglou Park, Du Fu Cottage, Chengdu Renmin Park and Huan Huaxi Park.
For those who prefer adrenaline rushes there is also the Happy Valley of Chengdu, a theme park that is suitable for all the family to enjoy.
Best month to visit Chengdu
The best time to visit Chengdu is between March and June (spring) or between September and November (autumn) as the weather is cooler, less humid and there is much less rainfall than during the winter and summer months. There is a much high chance of sunny skies and enjoyable weather.
Chengdu's Climate
Chengdu has a subtropical monsoon climate. There is plenty of rain all year round, but the heaviest rains come in July and August. Winters are cool, and summers are hot. Chengdu has one of the lowest annual sunshine records in China, however, and outside the summer months skies can be continually overcast and cloudy.
Panda Country
The best time to see pandas around Chengdu is the winter - pandas are native to much higher altitudes than this, and therefore find the summers too hot. Indeed giant pandas in the Chengdu Panda Research and Breeding Base are confined to air conditioned pens when the temperature exceeds 25°C - which is much of the spring and pretty much all of the summer.
Chengdu in Spring
Spring is a pretty time in Chengdu, with plenty of flowers and blossoming trees. Average daily highs range from around 15°C in March to 26°C in May. Nights in early spring can be chilly, however, so do take something with long sleeves for the spring nights. Take an umbrella too, as spring showers can be heavy and prolonged.
Chengdu in Summer
Summers in Chengdu are hot and humid. The average daily high in June is 28°C, rising to 32oc in July and August. Since this is an average, you can expect plenty of days when it's much hotter than this. With high humidity levels, it will feel hotter in any case, and sticky. July and August bring approximately 8 inches of rain each, typically in dramatic storms. However, it's much too hot for waterproof clothing - do take an umbrella and waterproof shoes.
If you're visiting Chengdu in the summer, take lightweight cotton clothing. Nights rarely fall below 20°C, but you can escape the heat in the daytime by travelling into the nearby mountains and Longchi Forest Park.
Chengdu in Autumn
Autumn in Chengdu is cool, damp and foggy, but because the heat of the summer has gone, it's a popular time to visit. Avoid the Chinese national holiday on the 1st October, as the crowds can be heavy. Average daily highs range from 25°C in September to 15°C in October, with overnight lows starting to dip below 10°C as winter approaches.
If you're visiting Chengdu in the autumn, you'll need that umbrella again, plus some layered clothing for the changing temperatures.
Chengdu in Winter
Chengdu's winter months are cloudy, overcast and damp, with lots of fog. Average daily highs stay around 10°C, but nights can be cold and occasionally below freezing. Humidity is high, which can make the city feel clammy.
What to wear in Chengdu?
Due to the amount of rain and fog that Chengdu experiences it is recommended that you take some wet weather clothing and at least an umbrella no matter what time of year you are visiting the city. As the temperatures during the summer are very high there is no need for anything other than light clothing though if you visit in the winter months you will need clothing that can cope with the average lows of 3 degrees Celsius.
Best months to visit Chengdu?
March and April are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Chengdu. The weather averages gathered from Chengdu weather forecast and Chengdu weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 19°c and average of 174.2 hours of sunshine in a month.
Coldest months of Chengdu?
January and December are the coldest months with temperature at around 4°c.
Which months receive most rainfall in Chengdu?
July and August receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 345.66mm.
Travelling to Chengdu? Check out our Weather averages of Chengdu 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 Chengdu section.