Weather: In April, Chengdu's average temperature ranges from 15–26°C (59–79°F), which feels warm and sometimes even a bit hot. In around 7–8 days, daytime highs can reach 30–35°C (86–95°F).
Mostly light rain and cloudy days, with about 15 days of rainfall throughout the month. Spring showers are generally light, totaling around 262 mm (about 10.3 in)
What to Wear: Usually, a T-shirt with a light jacket works well. You can take the jacket off if it feels hot. Thin long sleeves, shirts, long pants, or skirts are also good options. Don't forget an umbrella and sun protection.
April is One of the Best Times to Visit Chengdu
If you're looking for a season in Chengdu with comfortable weather, beautiful scenery, fewer crowds, and reasonable prices, April is definitely the best choice.
April brings more comfortable temperatures and pleasant weather, warm but not muggy. Flower admirations, city walks, shopping, local food, and visiting pandas are all very enjoyable.
It's especially family-friendly, making it easy for both seniors and kids to have a relaxed time.
Spring Travel in Chengdu: Which Month is Best
| Month | March | April | May |
| Avg. Temp | 8-17°C (46–63°F) | 15-26°C (59–79°F) | 18-29°C (64–84°F) |
| Weather | Unpredictable, sometimes cold, sometimes warm | Warm and sometimes cool | a bit hot |
| Crowds | Busy during Chengdu Food & Drink Fair (Mar 14–27) | Generally quiet except for Qingming Festival (Apr 5) | Busy during Labor Day Holiday (May 1–5) |
| Flower Viewing | in the city | in the city and surrounding areas | in western Sichuan |
Compared to the Chengdu Food & Drink Fair and the Labor Day holiday, the short Qingming 3-day peak doesn't cause a big jump in hotel or flight prices.
Still, I'd recommend avoiding Qingming if possible. Besides more crowds than usual, it usually rains during these days.
Downtown and Nearby Attractions in April
Popular spots like Chunxi Road, Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli Ancient Street, the Panda Bases, and Sanxingdui are quieter than in the peak season, with fewer crowds in this month.
In the surrounding areas like Leshan, Dujiangyan, and Emei Mountain, there are also fewer visitors, and you can still enjoy the flowers in bloom.
Although Jiuzhaigou is in its low-water season now, the peach blossoms are stunning, and most lakes still have a good amount of water, making it worth a visit.
If you'd like a tailored plan to cover both the city highlights and flower-filled mountain escapes, we can arrange it for you. Feel free to contact us, or see our 6-Day Chengdu City and Nature Explorer Tour.
5 Best Things to Do in April in Chengdu
1. Enjoy Spring Flowers and Seasonal Delights
When you visit Chengdu at different times in April, you'll catch different blooms:
- Before April 10: Late cherry blossoms along the streets and peach blossoms on Longquan Mountain
- Before April 15: Tabebuia Chrysantha at Eastern Suburb Memory
- Late April: Jacaranda flowers in Xiaotong Alley (near Kuanzhai Alley), and the Tianpeng Peony Festival
April is also the season for local red cherries and loquats. It's a great time to enjoy spring bamboo shoots (Pandas' favorite, too!) and fragrant toon leaves.
The fresh fruits can be your perfect on-the-go snacks. And while in the restaurants, you can try dishes like stir-fried bamboo shoots or scrambled eggs with toon leaves. These two are also the classic springtime specialties on many local Chengdu tables.
2. Witness the Dujiangyan Water Releasing Ceremony
Dujiangyan Blue Tears NightscapeDuring Qingming (April 4 or 5), Dujiangyan will hold a grand Water Releasing Ceremony. If you're interested, you can come and witness these spectacular sacrificial scenes of ancient China.
You'll see many people dressed in traditional Han costumes, burning incense and reciting ceremonial texts, performing the Nuo dance, riding horses across the Feisha Weir, and swinging massive axes to split the bamboo cages used for water control, as if you've traveled back over 2,000 years.
Even if you miss the festival, the river is still stunning. In April, with little rain, it flows clear and emerald green by day. While at night, you can catch the dreamy "Blue Tears" as it lights up.
And if you visit before April 10, you can also enjoy the pink crabapple and white paulownia blossoms along the canals, with snow-capped mountains in the distance.
We can arrange a Dujiangyan tour and a private car for you. See our 6-Day Songpan, Jiuzhaigou, and Dujiangyan Tour.
3. Meet Mount Emei in a Season with Snow and Blossoms
The various views you can see in Mount Emei in AprilIn April, Mount Emei is still transitioning between winter and spring, offering different landscapes depending on when you visit.
For example, before April 10, you can still catch some snowfall, though it melts quickly, so snow scenes aren't guaranteed.
Around April 15, the Chinese dove trees bloom. This ancient and rare flower is the "giant panda of the plant world", and its flowering season lasts about two weeks. You can spot their white and green beauty near Wannian Temple and the Xixin Courtyard on the mountain.
After April 20, more than 30 species of alpine azaleas start to bloom on Mount Emei. You'll unexpectedly come across these vibrant flowers along the trails.
4. Watch the Pandas Before the Heat Sets In
Panda in the Research BaseApril, with fewer crowds and warm weather, is comfortable for you to visit, while not hot for pandas, so you'll see them more active than in summer.
Keep in mind that as temperatures rise, pandas at the Chengdu Panda Research Base and Panda Valley are brought to indoor viewing rooms once they reach around 25°C (77°F). If so, your viewing experience is not as good as that outdoors.
So if you want to visit these two panda bases, it's best to go before 10 a.m. It's cooler in the morning, and it's also feeding time.
Or you can visit Wolong Panda Base. It's located in mountainous areas, and the temperatures are typically around 10–22°C (50-72°F) in April, cooler than downtown Chengdu and Dujiangyan.
If you look for a deeper panda experience, you can even join a 1-Day Panda Volunteer Program. It can also be a meaningful experience to share with your kids. You can see our panda tours.
5. Experience an Immersive Visit to Sanxingdui Museum
The bronze statue and gold mask in SanxingduiIf you're interested in history, April is a great time to visit Sanxingdui during the off-season. The museum houses over 1,500 uniquely shaped bronze artifacts, which you can admire up close behind the glass cases, not like the long ticket queues or crowded galleries in peak season.
However, weekends can also be busy here. We recommend visiting on weekdays, and the museum is also open on Mondays.
Or you can enter around 4 pm, and when it's around 5 pm, the museum is nearly empty, letting you enjoy it almost to yourself.
Popular Chengdu Tours
- 7-Day Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou Fairyland Tour
- 4-Day Mt. Siguniang Summit Expedition Tour
- 5-Day Chengdu, Leshan, and Mount. Emei Tour
You could also contact us to make your own trip based on your travel time and requirements.
Chengdu Weather by Month
- Chengdu Weather in January
- Chengdu Weather in February
- Chengdu Weather in March
- Chengdu Weather in April
- Chengdu Weather in May
- Chengdu Weather in June
- Chengdu Weather in July
- Chengdu Weather in August
- Chengdu Weather in September
- Chengdu Weather in October
- Chengdu Weather in November
- Chengdu Weather in December
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