Chongqing, in south-central China, features a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. The city is famous for its hot, muggy summers, mild but damp winters, and frequent fog. Abundant rainfall, high humidity, and limited sunshine – especially in winter – make Chongqing a unique destination for both urban and natural exploration year-round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Chongqing’s climate is shaped by its inland location, mountainous surroundings, and proximity to the Yangtze River. Winters (December–February) are mild but damp, with average highs of 9–12°C and lows of 6–8°C. Snow is rare, but fog and drizzle are common, and sunshine is scarce – just 1–2 hours per day. The humidity makes winter feel colder than the temperature suggests. Spring (March–May) is mild and becomes increasingly warm and rainy, with temperatures rising from 14°C to 23°C in April and up to 27°C in May. Spring is also foggy, with frequent temperature swings and rain showers.
Summers (June–August) are long, hot, and humid, with average highs of 29–34°C and lows of 22–25°C. Chongqing is one of China’s hottest cities, with July and August often exceeding 35°C and occasional heatwaves above 40°C. Rainfall peaks in summer, with frequent thunderstorms and heavy downpours, especially at night. Despite the rain, July and August are the sunniest months, with up to 6–7 hours of sunshine daily. Autumn (September–November) is short and pleasant, with highs dropping from 28°C in September to 17°C in November. Rainfall decreases, humidity remains high, and skies are often clearer, especially in October. Chongqing receives 1,100–1,400 mm of rain annually, with over 100 foggy days and just 1,000–1,200 hours of sunshine per year – among the lowest in China. Winds are generally light, but can be brisk in spring and summer storms.
| Average climate data for Chongqing, China | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 12 | 16 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 29 | 23 | 18 | 13 | 34 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 6 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 18 | 13 | 8 | 6 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 8 | 10 | 25 | 51 | 72 | 87 | 110 | 61 | 62 | 52 | 26 | 7 | 572 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 6 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 153 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 60 | 55 | 54 | 61 | 65 | 73 | 69 | 65 | 71 | 71 | 69 | 63 | 65 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 45 | 40 | 42 | 46 | 47 | 49 | 38 | 34 | 53 | 54 | 52 | 47 | 46 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
The best time to visit Chongqing is from March to May and September to November, when temperatures are mild (15–28°C), humidity is comfortable, and rainfall is moderate. These seasons offer the best conditions for sightseeing, hiking, and enjoying the city’s vibrant festivals and scenic river cruises, with fewer crowds than in peak summer.
The least favourable time is from July to August, when Chongqing is at its hottest and most humid. Temperatures often exceed 35°C, humidity is high, and heavy rain or thunderstorms are frequent. Outdoor activities can be uncomfortable, though the city’s nightlife and indoor attractions remain lively.
Chongqing has a humid subtropical climate with hot, muggy summers (29–34°C), mild, damp winters (9–12°C), and abundant rainfall. Fog and overcast skies are common, and sunshine is limited, especially in winter.
The best time to visit Chongqing is in spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when temperatures are comfortable, rain is moderate, and the city’s parks and riverside scenery are at their best.
Snow is rare in Chongqing due to its mild winter temperatures. When it does occur, it is usually light and melts quickly. Fog and drizzle are much more common in winter.
Chongqing receives about 1,100–1,400 mm of rainfall annually, with most rain falling from May to September. Summer months bring frequent thunderstorms and heavy downpours, especially at night.
Yes, Chongqing is known as China’s 'Fog City,' with over 100 foggy days per year. Fog and overcast skies are most common in winter and spring, contributing to limited sunshine.
Chongqing is one of China’s least sunny cities, with only 1,000–1,200 hours of sunshine annually. Summer months are the sunniest, while winter is often cloudy and grey.
Pack layers and a rain jacket for spring and autumn, sun protection and light clothing for summer, and warm, waterproof clothing for winter. An umbrella is useful year-round due to frequent showers.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (34.5 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (12.4 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 23.6 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (25.4 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (6.4 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 16.3 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (110.4 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is December (6.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 572 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is June (17.6 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (5.1 days). Over the whole year there are 153.2 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (2 mm). The months with the least snowfall are February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 3 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (0.4 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are April, June, August, October and November (0 days). Over the whole year there are 0.9 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is June (73 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is March (53.8 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 64.7 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is March (6.9 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is October (5.1 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 5.8 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is October (53.9 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (33.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 45.6 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 10 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 8.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 5 h). Over the whole year there are 6.7 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 8). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, November and December (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 5.2.
