Chengdu in August is averagely around 24-34°C (75-93°F). While forecasts often show you cloudy and rainy icons, actually most days feel like a steamy sauna, and the showers usually short (within 30 min) and are scattered.
Areas around Chengdu, like Jiuzhaigou and the summit of Mount Emei, are usually 20–30°C (68–86°F) during the day. But places like Dujiangyan and Leshan can still reach highs of over 35°C (95°F), similar to downtown Chengdu.
Is August a Good Time to Visit Chengdu
To be honest, August may not be ideal for a Chengdu trip, especially if you don't like heat or crowds.
August is one of the hottest months in Chengdu and also a peak season during the summer holidays, so expect crowds and higher prices for hotels and flights (sometimes even double).
Thus, if you have a flexible time, we suggest September or October. But if you have already decided to visit in August, with some practical tips, you could still enjoy a relatively comfortable trip.
How to Avoid Crowds and Heat
1. Visit after 20th August
This is when the local school holidays wind down and the tourist flow starts to ease. It may also become easier to book hotels and get tickets for popular attractions.
2. Visit During Relatively Less Crowded Times: 7-10am, 4-5pm and after 9:30pm
If you prefer to avoid the crowds, here are the best times to visit some popular spots:
- 7-10am: the IFS Panda Sculpture and Wide and Narrow Alleys. You can enjoy better views and photos in daylight
- 4-5pm: attractions like Wushou Shrine and Sanxingdui Museum are near the closing time, so it will be quieter.
- After 9:30 pm: Crowds start to thin out at great night-view spots like Jinli Old Street and the "Blue Tears" in Dujiangyan Irrigation System
3. Visit Cool Spots Near the City Area
Visit places like Mount Qingcheng, Huanglongxi Ancient Town, where you can also enjoy water activities, or the mid-level of Mount Emei and Jiuzhaigou for cooler temperatures.
Mount Qingcheng4. Choose Some Interesting and Cool Indoor Activities.
Try indoor options with comfortable air-conditioned cool, such as Sichuan Opera shows or the Sichuan Cuisine Museum (taste snacks and learn how to cook local dishes).
Although August in Chengdu is hot and crowded, with the right travel strategies, like going out when the sun isn't as intense, visiting cooler spots, and avoiding peak-hour crowds, you can still enjoy a very pleasant trip.
Watch a Sichuan Opera Show with face changingAugust Tips for Chengdu's Must-See Attractions
We've also got a few smart tips and plans to help you deal with the crowds in Chengdu's popular attractions.
Choose a Night Visit to Those Streets
Streets like Chunxi Road (Taikoo Li) and Jinli Old Street are busy throughout the day. But in the evening, you can enjoy beautiful light, a livelier atmosphere, and don't have to bear the scorching sun.
Crowds usually peak around 7 to 8 pm. If you want a less crowded experience, try visiting around 9 pm, when shops are still open, but the crowds have thinned out.
Jinli Old Street at nightYou can also explore Jiuyan Bridge Bar Street, Fangcao Street, and Wangping Street. They're lively but generally less crowded.
Visit Dujiangyan Panda Base rather than Panda Research Base
Chengdu Panda Research Base is usually crowded, and in August, the crowds can easily double. Even if you arrive early, like 7am, you'll still find yourself surrounded by crowds, and need to queue for at least 1 hour for the shuttle bus.
Basically, it's hard for you to have a good experience watching pandas here in August.
If you want to visit pandas this month, we recommend going to the Dujiangyan Panda Base instead. It's a bit far (2-hour drive) from Chengdu, so it's less crowded.
Our guests at Dujiangyan Panda BaseYou can see that most of the pandas in Dujiangyan Panda Base stay outdoors, so you can enjoy a better viewing experience. While at the Chengdu Panda Research Base, most of the pandas are indoors in summer.
Dujiangyan Panda Base also offers panda volunteer activities, and slightly cooler than Chengdu.
Take a VIP Boat Ride to Visit the Giant Buddha
At Leshan Giant Buddha, you can either hike close to the statue or take a panoramic boat ride. However, in August, the narrow hiking paths get crowded, and even the regular boat tours may require waiting in line for up to an hour.
If you want to avoid the line and enjoy a pleasant experience, we recommend booking a VIP boat tour. You can enjoy a separate waiting lounge to cut down on queuing. Plus, the boat has air-conditioning, so you can enjoy a cool, comfortable ride.
Visit the Leshan Giant Buddha in a boatAlso, visiting before 8:30 am or after 3:00 pm helps you avoid the busiest crowds.
Add Mount Emei to Your Trip to Cool Off
You would enjoy a cool summer in Mount Emei. In August, the temperature there falls on 20°C/68°F. Whether you go hiking or just sightseeing, it would be very comfortable.
While summer is not the best season for catching the sea of clouds, you still have a good chance to enjoy a beautiful sunrise or sunset.
Sunrise at the Golden Summit of Mount EmeiThe higher you go, the cooler it gets. In the early morning and evening, or on a rainy day, temperatures can drop to around 15°C/59°F, so you'll need a light jacket.
August is still a busy time on the mountain, and queues for the cable car can be long. We recommend spending two days and one night here so you won't need to rush.
Consider Plan B if Visiting Sanxingdui Museum
In August, since it's the school holiday period, Sanxingdui often sees lots of student tour groups. This makes it quite difficult for regular visitors to book tickets, and the museum halls can get extremely crowded.
If you're unable to get tickets to Sanxingdui, we recommend visiting the Jinsha Site Museum instead. You can still explore the ancient Shu civilization and similar items to Sanxingdui.
An exhibit at Jiansha Site MuseumBut with much fewer crowds, you can leisurely appreciate the exhibits and take photos by the glass display, which is hard to do at Sanxingdui during peak season.
If you only want to visit Sanxingdui, here are some tips:
- To improve your chances, log in and fill in your visitor info in advance, then refresh the booking page right at 8:00 pm when tickets are released.
- If you do manage to get tickets, it's best to enter before 8:30 am, or visit around 4pm and 7pm. These time slots tend to be less crowded.
What to Wear in Chengdu's August
In August, Chengdu is hot and humid, similar to Singapore or Malaysia, so wear light, breathable clothes like cotton T-shirts, linen shirts, shorts, or airy dresses.
A sun hat and umbrella are essential for protection against strong sun and sudden showers.
Don't forget to bring a lightweight sun-protective jacket. It shields you from UV rays, and since some indoor places often have strong air-conditioning, you can wear it to stay comfortable and help prevent catching a chill.
Chengdu Climate Information 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
(10,000+ reviews)