Overview
Chengdu has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) and is largely mild and humid. It has four distinct seasons, with moderate rainfall concentrated mainly in the warmer months, and relieved from both sweltering summers and freezing winters. The Qin Mountains (Qinling) to the far north help shield the city from cold Siberian winds in the winter; because of this, the short winter is milder than in the Lower Yangtze. The 24-hour daily mean temperature in January is 5.6 °C (42.1 °F), and snow is rare but there are a few periods of frost each winter. The summer is hot and humid, but not to the extent of the "Three Furnaces" cities of Chongqing, Wuhan, and Nanjing, all which lie in the Yangtze basin. The 24-hour daily mean temperature in July and August is around 25 °C (77 °F), with afternoon highs sometimes reaching 33 °C (91 °F); sustained heat as found in much of eastern China is rare.

Rainfall is common year-round but is the greatest in July and August, with very little of it in the cooler months. Chengdu also has one of the lowest annual sunshine totals nationally, with less sunshine annually than much of Northern Europe, and most days are overcast even if without rain. This is especially so in the winter months, when it is typically interminably grey and dreary, compounding the poor air quality. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 16 percent in December to 38 percent in August, the city receives 1,073 hours of bright sunshine annually. Spring (March–April) tends to be sunnier and warmer in the day than autumn (October–November). The annual mean is 16.27 °C (61.3 °F), and extremes have ranged from −4.6 °C (24 °F) to 37.5 °C (99.5 °F).

Best Time for Travel in Chengdu

Spring
Spring in Chengdu often comes early from the beginning of March and lasts long until early May. There are frequent alternative changes, sometimes you may feel chilly in Spring.

Seasonal Activities
Every spring the Peach Blossom Festival is celebrated in Longquanyi District in eastern Chengdu. And the best time to see the peach blossoms is from late March to early April.

Summer
Summer in Chengdu is hot and rainy, starting from mid-May to the end of August. The weather is hot and sultry but the temperature seldom exceeds 35 degrees Celsius.

Seasonal Activities
To escape the summer heat, you can visit the nearby Qingcheng Mountains and Mt. Emei, and summer is the best season to see the giant pandas when they are most active.

Autumn
Autumn usually starts from September and lasts till the end of October or early November. In late Autumn, the temperature drops quickly and there may be a lot of rain.

Seasonal Activities
This is one of the best time to visit Chengdu, when the Ginkgo trees turn into a color of the glorious gold. The autumn scenery at Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong are among the most beautiful in China.

Winter
Winter is from December to February, the average temperature is about 5 degrees Celsius.

Seasonal Activities
Xiling Snow Mountains are a good place for skiing, while the plum blossoms at in several place in the eastern suburb are also the winter highlights in Chengdu.