Chongqing Climate

Chongqing Weather and Climate describes information with temperature, precipitation, geography, what clothes to wear in Chongqing, weather and climate by month, climate graph. Under the dual action of terrain and climate, Chongqing is rich in mist, known as "Foggy Chongqing" and "Capital of Fog". The average annual foggy day is 104 days, however, the annual foggy day of the world's fog capital London is only 94 days on average, and the far east fog capital of Tokyo is only 55 days. Fog day of Yunwu mountain in Bishan district can reach 204 days a year. In addition, Chongqing, along with Nanjing and Wuhan, is one of the "Three Furnace Cities" in China.

Chongqing Weather Graphs and Climate Features

The average annual relative humidity in Chongqing is 70%-80%, which is a high humidity area in China. The annual sunshine duration is 1000-1400 hours, and the sunshine percentage is only 25%-35%, which is one of the areas with the least sunshine in China. The sunshine in winter and spring is even less, accounting for only 35% of the whole year. The main climate characteristics of Chongqing can be summarized as warm winter and early spring, hot summer and cool autumn, four distinct seasons and long frost-free period, moist air and abundant rainfall, weak solar radiation and short sunshine duration, significant three-dimensional climate, rich climate resources and frequent meteorological disaster. 

Temperature

Chongqing enjoys a typical humid subtropical monsoon climate, with an annual average temperature of 16-18℃. The average temperature in the hottest month is from 26-29℃, while the average temperature for the coldest month is from 4℃ to 8℃. Besides, the annual average temperature of Banan, Qijiang, Yunyang and other places in the Yangtze River Valley can reach more than 18.5℃, that of Qianjiang and Youyang in the southeast of Chongqing is 14-16℃, Chengkou county in the northeast Chongqing with higher altitude is only 13.7 ℃. 

Precipitation

The average annual rainfall is relatively rich, most areas in 1000-1350 mm, and precipitation is mostly concentrated in May to September, accounting for about 70% of the total annual precipitation. At the turn of spring and summer, Chongqing has more rainfall at night. Chongqing is famous for its night rain of Ba mountain.  

Chongqing Weather and Climate by Month

There is a difference of 159 mm of precipitation between the driest and wettest months. Throughout the year, temperatures vary by 22.0 °C.

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

Four Seasons of Chongqing & What to Pack

Spring(March-May)

• Weather Feature: Spring comes in late February or early March and lasts until early May. The temperature rises rapidly, but not stable.
• What to Bring: Sweaters and jackets are fine for the weather, but keep long-sleeved shirts/thin coat ready for when the weather gets warmer.
• Recommended Tour Activities: The season is suitable for visiting the Dazu Rock Carving. The early spring is a good time to enjoy the flowers, like the golden rape flowers and peony in Dianjiang County, peach blossom in Zouma Town and azaleas in Jinfo Mountain. 

Summer(June-September)

• Weather Feature: Summer in Chongqing is long and hot from June to September. Chongqing is one of China's "three furnace cities", featuring extremely hot and humid weather. The average temperature in summer is about 30°C, the hottest month is July, and the highest temperature can reach 44°C.
• What to Bring: Just wear summer clothes such as T-shirts, skirts and shorts, remember to bring umbrellas and sunscreen, and drink a lot of water when travelling to Chongqing in summer. 
• Recommended Tour Activities: The highest temperature in summer in Chongqing can reach more than 40°C. Coupled with moist air, people need to pay attention to escaping the heat and lowering temperature. There are a lot of summer resorts around Chongqing, but the room rate of the surrounding Wulong mountain, Jinfo mountain and other places rises due to the incresing summer crowds. So it is best to book a room in advance. In addition, fog in this period is relatively thin, which is good for enjoying night view. You can also choose the Yangtze River Cruise, Three Gorges, Furong Cave and Yutai Mountain. Taking a cruise on the Yangtze River in summer allows you to enjoy the natural scenery while basking in the sun.

Autumn(October-November)

• Weather Feature: Autumn is usually pleasantly cool from October to November. After entering November, the temperature drops gradually. 
• What to Bring: T-shirts, thin sweaters and coats are needed at this time.
• Recommended Tour Activities: This is the best time to visit Chongqing and take a cruise on the Yangtze River. The period from late October to mid-November is known as the "Indian Summer", during which people have an excellent opportunity to see the red leaves in Garden Expo Park.

Winter(December-February)

• Weather Feature: In winter, Chongqing's weather is mild and gloomy, with little snow. There is little frost or snow, but a lot of fog and mist.
• What to Bring: Usually, down or cotton jacket, sweater and thick jeans are suitable for the weather. Due to the wet and cold weather, it is best to wear down jacket. 
• Recommended Tour Activities: In Chongqing, the best things to do in winter are to eat hotpot and soak in hot spring. At this time, Chongqing is in off-season, most attractions implement off-season tickets. On Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, many people will gather in Chongqing Jiefangbei, joining the New Year countdown and flying the ballons. Streets are decorated with lanterns and streamers, and there are also discount and promotion activities in the shopping malls. 

Best Time to Visit Chongqing

Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Chongqing. The weather is sunny and comfortable in these periods. However, from October to April in the following year, Chongqing has more fog than any other time of year, so although it is hot in summer, there is less fog comparing with other seasons. Summer is the best time to enjoy the charming night scene of Chongqing. Winter is more suitable for visiting indoor museum or Wulong Karst Landscape, and is a good time to eat hotpot, soak hot springs to relax.

Read More: Best Time to Visit Chongqing

Avoid Public Holidays in China

Try to avoid the public holidays of China, such as May Day Holiday(May 1-3), National Day Holiday(October 1-7), Spring Festival Holiday(Usually early February), Qingming Festival(in early April), Dragon Boat Festival(in June). Spring festival and national day festival are the most crowded time to travel. During these holidays, there will be a large crowd in the tourist attractions and you can't really enjoy yourself. Flights and hotels can cost three times as much than usual, and it's hard to get tickets during the Spring Festival. 

Read more: Chinese National Holidays