Chengdu Weather
Chengdu's western Sichuan Basin edge location, on the Chengdu Plain, as well as the ranging altitudes of 450 to 720 metres, all contribute to its humid, subtropical climate that is influenced by the monsoon and it can generally be described to be pleasantly mild and extremely humid overall, with these conditions generally prevalent throughout the entire year.
Chengdu's weather depicts four very distinct seasons, but the extremes associated with the summers of other surrounding areas aren't that potent in Chengdu, with the right balance in topographical features contributing to the generally pleasant nature of the Chengdu weather.
Chengdu's northwest border, comprised out of the high-climbing Longmen Mountain, acts as a containing shield against extreme weather systems, together with the westward-lying Qionglai mountainous areas.
The Qionglai mountainous areas are rich in forestry which makes for the ideal habitat for the likes of the pandas, making for a pleasant flow of weather systems that balance out beautifully within Chengdu.
Monthly Weather Breakdown and Seasons
Spring: Chengdu's spring season is relatively long (for spring), stretching out over the three-month period of March to May, with a fair amount of rainfall to be expected, but not too much, and mild, pleasant temperatures with days that can get a bit humid at times.
The warming spring wind is a particularly pleasant feature of the Chengdu weather, but it is rather short-lived as the season gets warmer and warmer, eventually giving way to a period of extreme humidity.
March
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 16
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 8
Precipitation (mm): 20
Average Precipitation (Days): 11
April
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 22
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 13
Precipitation (mm): 44
Average Precipitation (Days): 13
May
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 26
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 17
Precipitation (mm): 79
Average Precipitation (Days): 15
Summer: Chengdu's summer season, which usually announces itself around mid-to-end-May and gives way to autumn around the end of August, is very hot and wet, with the humid and hot air masses practically inseparable, peaking at around July and August, where temperatures can soar up to 30 degrees Celsius, while the rainfall can reach levels of up to 225 mm for a period of 30 days.
June
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 28
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 21
Precipitation (mm): 107
Average Precipitation (Days): 15
July
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 30
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 22
Precipitation (mm): 225
Average Precipitation (Days): 18
August
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 30
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 22
Precipitation (mm): 201
Average Precipitation (Days): 16
Autumn: Chengdu's autumns are very swift and progressive, with temperatures dropping rather sharply between the months of September and the end of October, and the total monthly rainfall drops just as quickly, but lots of rain still falls since it has a very high average to subside from.
Chengdu's autumn rain is also very unpredictable, with the weather changing at will and often resembling the four seasons in one day.
September
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 26
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 19
Precipitation (mm): 119
Average Precipitation (Days): 16
October
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 21
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 15
Precipitation (mm): 35
Average Precipitation (Days): 13
Winter: Chengdu's winter isn't the very coldest one can get in this part of the world, but with an average temperature of 5 degrees Celsius, the period running from November to about midway through February can get a bit unpleasant, with December experiencing the least amount of rainfall and just about the coldest average temperature, consistent with the marriage between Chengdu's temperature and humidity.
November
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 16
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 10
Precipitation (mm): 16
Average Precipitation (Days): 8
December
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 11
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 5
Precipitation (mm): 5
Average Precipitation (Days): 5
January
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 9
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 3
Precipitation (mm): 8
Average Precipitation (Days): 7
February
Average High (Degrees Celsius): 11
Average Low (Degrees Celsius): 5
Precipitation (mm): 12
Average Precipitation (Days): 9
Travel Tips
Since summer is essentially a very uncomfortable time to be in Chengdu, if this is the ideal time based on one's schedule, a little bit of knowledge about how the locals cope with the weather may come in handy, like how Jiulong Valley makes for just one of the few strategically available nearby places to escape the extremes of the Chengdu summer weather.
Otherwise, the best time to travel to Chengdu is probably spring time, not just because of the pleasant weather, but also because of the selective balance of rainfall as well as the transformation of the abundant plant life.
Clothing Tips
For the most comfortable clothing during spring time, it is advised that one packs light sweat shirts as the preferred gear, but since mornings can still get a bit cold, a long-sleeved shirt will do, with a jacket packed in just in case, otherwise a light sweater is the way to go.