Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, features a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are long, hot, and humid, while winters are short, damp, and chilly. The city receives abundant rainfall, especially in spring and early summer, and enjoys moderate sunshine throughout the year, making for a climate with notable seasonal contrasts.
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.
Changsha’s humid subtropical climate brings pronounced seasonal changes. Winters (December to February) are short and damp, with average highs of 8–12°C and lows near 2–4°C. While snowfall is rare, humidity and river winds can make the cold feel more intense, and cloudy, foggy days are common. Most buildings lack central heating, so indoor conditions can also feel chilly during winter months.
Spring (March to May) is humid and changeable, with frequent rain and rapidly rising temperatures from 10°C to 22°C. The city’s wettest months are April to June, when the East Asian monsoon brings heavy downpours and thunderstorms, contributing to nearly half of Changsha’s annual rainfall of around 1,400 mm. Summers (June to September) are long, hot, and stiflingly humid, with average highs of 30–34°C and nighttime lows rarely dropping below 24°C. Temperatures can occasionally reach 38–40°C. Despite fewer rainy days, precipitation remains high due to intense storms. Autumn (October to November) is the most comfortable season, with mild, dry, and sunny weather and temperatures cooling from 24°C to 12°C. Sunshine is most abundant in summer and early autumn, with up to 8 hours per day in July and August, while winter and early spring are cloudier. Winds are generally light, but river breezes can add to the chill in winter.
Overall, Changsha’s climate is defined by warm temperatures, high humidity, abundant rainfall, and moderate sunshine, with occasional light snow in winter and periods of drought in late summer and early autumn. Sudden weather changes are common during seasonal transitions, so travellers should be prepared for variable conditions.
| Average climate data for Changsha, China | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 10 | 12 | 17 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 25 | 18 | 12 | 33 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 4 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 4 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 37 | 59 | 86 | 91 | 131 | 184 | 165 | 86 | 47 | 35 | 45 | 41 | 1,007 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 12 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 182 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 27 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 49 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 67 | 73 | 74 | 73 | 76 | 83 | 77 | 74 | 75 | 63 | 66 | 64 | 72 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 48 | 53 | 54 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 39 | 35 | 42 | 40 | 44 | 40 | 46 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
The best time to visit Changsha is in autumn (October to early November), when the weather is mild, dry, and sunny. This season offers comfortable temperatures for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and enjoying the city’s scenic spots, with less rainfall and humidity than other times of the year.
The least favourable time to visit Changsha is during the peak summer months (July and August), when extreme heat and humidity make outdoor activities uncomfortable. Spring (March to June) can also be challenging due to frequent, heavy rains and thunderstorms, which may disrupt travel plans.
Changsha has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. Summers are long, hot, and humid, while winters are short, damp, and chilly. Spring is rainy and changeable, and autumn is mild, dry, and sunny.
Autumn (October to early November) is the best time to visit Changsha, offering mild temperatures, dry and sunny weather, and comfortable conditions for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Summers in Changsha are very hot and humid, with average highs of 30–34°C. Temperatures can occasionally reach 38–40°C, and humidity often exceeds 75%, making the heat feel even more intense.
Snowfall in Changsha is rare and usually light, occurring mainly in January and February. Accumulation is minimal and does not significantly impact daily life, but the damp cold can feel severe.
Changsha receives about 1,400 mm of rain annually. The wettest months are April to June, when the East Asian monsoon brings heavy downpours and thunderstorms. Spring and early summer are especially rainy.
Changsha can be visited in winter, but the damp cold, frequent fog, and lack of central heating can make conditions uncomfortable. Warm clothing is essential, and indoor attractions are recommended during this season.
Bring lightweight, breathable clothes and sun protection for summer, warm layers for winter, and rain gear for spring. An umbrella is useful year-round, as sudden rain showers are common, especially during transitional seasons.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (33.2 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (9.7 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 22.3 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (25 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (3.7 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 14.8 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (184.2 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is October (34.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,006.7 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is June (20.2 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is October (10 days). Over the whole year there are 182.3 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (26.9 mm). The months with the least snowfall are March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 48.9 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (2.4 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are April, July, August, September and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 4.8 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is June (83.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is October (63 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 72 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (10.4 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is June (8.2 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 9.3 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is March (53.7 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (34.7 %). 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: 13.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 10 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 9.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 4.9 h). Over the whole year there are 6.5 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, February, November and December (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 5.
