Best Time to Visit Chengdu

The best time to visit Chengdu is in spring, from March to May, and in autumn, from September to November. During these periods, temperatures are mild, rainfall is not abundant, and there are stunning seasonal views: spring blossoms and autumn leaves. More noticeably, pandas prefer relatively cooler environments, meaning visitors are more likely to spot lively pandas outdoors during these months. 

Apart from pleasant weather, Chengdu is quiet with fewer tourists in spring and autumn. So, the travel costs are manageable, air tickets are easy to secure, and you don’t need to wait in line for famous attractions and restaurants.  

See More: Chengdu Weather
 In spring, the temperature in Chengdu gradually warms, and totally shakes off the winter feeling, so visitors can explore both the city center and mountainous areas with ease. As for the precipitation, Chengdu experiences mostly light drizzles and night rainfall, and they usually don’t last for too long. Therefore, outdoor travel plans won’t be affected significantly. 

Spring offers various blossoms in full splendor, including pink plum blossoms at Huanhuaxi Park, green plum blossoms at Wenhua Park, cherry blossoms at Dujiangyan, rapeseed flowers at Mount Qingcheng, and peach blossoms at Mount Longquan. If you want to catch almost all the spring flowers in one place, the Botanical Garden is the obvious choice. It encompasses malus spectabilis, cherry blossoms, peonies, and roses. 
 In autumn, the city finally welcomes cool temperatures, especially after mid-September when daytime highs basically stay under 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Although September still sees considerable rainfall, it won’t cause you any uncomfortable and oppressive feelings thanks to its cool temperatures and mostly drizzles, but it adds a touch of a misty feeling. In October and November, the rain is quite rare. 

Autumn in Chengdu offers a stunning fall foliage view both downtown and in the high-altitude areas. The peak downtown foliage view usually ranges from late October to early December, a quite long period. If you want to appreciate totally natural views in the mountain areas, the best visit time is from mid-October to late November. 

A tip for fall foliage admirers: fog tends to linger for an extended time in early mornings and late evenings. If you want to take impressive photos, try to avoid these periods and pick a sunny day. 
 All Chinese schools close for the summer holiday in July and August. Therefore, family tours and class trips are extremely popular at this time. Chengdu, in particular, as a tourist city that blends modernity with historical charm, experiences its peak travel season during summer vacation. Traveling to Chengdu during this period, you will inevitably encounter extremely crowded attractions and spend more on hotels than usual. 

Besides, from a weather perspective, July and August are unbearably hot, with daytime highs often reaching over 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). High humidity levels intensify the muggy and sticky feelings, especially when you stay outside for a long period. In terms of rainfall, these two months also coincide with the peak rainy season in Chengdu, possibly resulting in urban flooding and mudslides. 

Plus, as mentioned at the beginning, pandas dislike staying in hot and humid environments. On hot days in July and August, pandas spend most of their time in air-conditioned rooms, except for a brief period of outdoor activity in the early morning. Therefore, it’s possible for you to see no pandas playing outside during your trip, which may fail to meet your expectations and lower your visit experience.
 Apart from summer vacation, you are also advised to avoid the following public holidays for your Chengdu travel in 2026: 

1. The longest public holidays: Chinese New Year – February 15th -23rd. In addition to crowded attractions, train tickets and flight tickets are extremely difficult to obtain due to the Spring Travel Rush. 
2. The most crowded public holidays: May Day Holiday – May 1st-5th; National Day Holiday – October 1st -7th. Domestic travel rush reaches its peak, and overcrowded attractions would lower your travel experience. Hotels become quite expensive and hard to reserve.
3. Three-day Mini Holiday: Qingming Festival – April 4th -6th; Dragon Boat Festival – June 19th -21st; Mid-Autumn Day – September 25th -27th; New Year’s Day – January 1st-3rd. Short trips are relatively common during this period, so you’ll also see abundant tourists and higher travel costs. 
 As mentioned above, you are recommended to avoid visiting Chengdu during these periods. If you have to visit the city during peak season, here are some tips for your reference: 

1. Early booking is highly recommended, so that you can secure satisfactory hotels and transportation tickets at not-very-high prices. Some popular attractions also require early booking, such as the Chengdu Giant Panda Base. 
2. If you want to escape the crowds, it’s best to arrive at the attractions as early as possible. 
3. It’s a wise move to arrange only one or two key attractions in one day during these crowded periods. In this way, you won’t feel like you are rushing through your itinerary and missing out on the deeper travel experience. 
 June marks the early phase of summer in Chengdu, characterized by slightly high temperatures and moderate rainfall. Therefore, you won’t feel the stifling discomfort that often occurs in the peak of summer for most of the month. Plus, this month receives many fewer tourists than in July and August, especially in early June and mid-June. You can not only enjoy the lush green scenery, but also have a peaceful and budget-friendly travel experience. 

December has a similar situation. In December, Chengdu isn’t as cold as in January and February, and the rain is rare. More noticeably, red and yellow leaves still linger in the city center until early December. Despite the off-peak season, late December in Chengdu won’t let you down with beautiful and unique decorations in shopping malls for New Year’s Day. 
 January and February are the two coldest months in Chengdu throughout the year, and humid air and frequent fogs intensify the colder feelings and really make a big challenge for your journey. Due to the not very comfortable climate, there is a significant drop in tourist numbers and travel costs. The natural scene in the city center might be a bit boring, but the mountainous areas offer an amazing snowy view.