Changsha Weather in August

Season: Summer
In short:
1. The weather of Changsha in August is unbearably hot.
2. Precipitation generally comes in showers, so raingear is a must.
3. To visit Changsha in scorching and damp August, you need to properly plan your itinerary and prevent heatstroke.
 In August, Changsha is in its midsummer and the weather features scorching days all month long. With the high temperature from about 30 to 38 degrees Celsius (86 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit), the city is in baking heat during the day, and most people cannot stand such broiling weather. Even if when night falls, the temperature doesn’t drop greatly, and thus you may still feel sweltering after sunset. By the period before dawn, the temperature falls to the range between about 24 to 29°C (75 to 84°F).
 Changsha in August receives moderate precipitation of about 132 mm in about 9 days, and the rain mainly appears in showers in low and moderate intensity. In such a high-temperature environment after showers, the air becomes a little cooler and makes people feel fresh. Even if heavy rain happens, it won’t last for a long time, and its impact on sightseeing is not great either.
 The climate of Changsha in August is very damp, with the high humidity of about 80%. In the hot environment, the air rich in moisture can make people feel stuffy.
 Air quality of Changsha in August is very well, with the Air Quality Index of about 36, which is the lowest in the entire year. Although the air is basically not polluted, for your comfort, please not stay in the high-temperature and high-humidity environment for a quite long time.
 In August, the sun rises a little later from 05:55 to 06:09, and sets earlier gradually from 19:17 to 18:51. Length of day thus shortens slowly from about 13 hours and 20 minutes to 12 hours and 41 minutes. On brightly sunny days, the maximum UV index can be 11, which is quite high and likely to cause sunburn. Since the daytime is relatively long and the sunlight radiation is strong, during your visit in Changsha in August, 2026, you can consider making no sightseeing around scorching noon, and just schedule your trip in dawn, dusk and night.
 Quick-dry summer clothes: T-shirts, shorts, thin long pants, skirts, and dresses are all suitable. It’s better to add a sun-protective jacket with a wide brim hat.

Breathable and non-slippery shoes: Sandals are the best choices in humid August.

Requisites:
(1) High-SPF sunblock and sunglasses help protect against sunburn.
(2) A handheld fan offers cool air to you.
(3) Anti-mosquito repellent.
(4) An umbrella to cope with showers.
 1. August is in summer holidays of most Chinese schools and attractions are quite crowded at weekends. Besides, museums in Changsha usually close every Monday. In view of these, it’s suggested to visit the city from Tuesday to Friday this month.

2. For natural scenery lovers, you can climb the Yuelu Mountain in the early morning, when the weather hasn’t been the hottest in a day. In late afternoon, you can visit the landmark Orange Isle on the Xiangjiang River to view the large statue of Mao Zedong. It’s highly recommended to take the cable car and sightseeing train in the scenic spots, because it’ll be exhausting to make your sightseeing by foot in the whole process, especially in the extremely hot and sunny weather.

3. For those culture and archaeology enthusiasts, the Hunan Provincial Museum, the Changsha Museum, and the relics of Mawangdui Han Tombs are all good places to go. Plus, these indoor attractions are fully equipped with air conditioners, making your travel experience better.

4. In view of hot and damp weather conditions during the day, you can consider arranging more night tour activities. A cruise on the Xiangjiang River is worth a try. It’s suggested to take the cruise ship setting off after the sunset at around 19:00, so that you can enjoy the beautiful night views on both sides. Standing on the deck, you will feel comfortable in cool winds. In addition, watching the stunning fire show in Liuyang City at Saturday night is also recommended.