Chengdu Weather in March 2026: Warm with Blossoms

Is it cold in Chengdu in March? Actually, in this month, temperatures in Chengdu start to rise, averaging around 9-17°C (48-63°F), so it's neither too cold nor too hot. However, the weather can be quite changeable, with occasional chilly days, and about 20 cloudy or drizzly days.

For example, during my week in Chengdu from March 22–29, 2025, mornings and evenings were around 10°C (50°F), midday reached 25°C (77°F), and most days were warm and sunny. However, the last two days dropped sharply to 6–10°C (48-63°F)during the daytime.

What to Wear: Bring a mix of winter and autumn clothes to handle the changeable weather, such as a down jacket, trench coat, warm layers, sweaters, hoodies, light jackets, hats, and thicker long skirts.

Is March a Good Time to Visit Chengdu?

Based on my own experience, March is indeed a great time to visit Chengdu. It's the tail end of the low season, so there aren't many crowds, and hotels and flights are fairly affordable.

Also, the weather is mostly mild. Though it can vary at times, it's generally quite comfortable. You'll also see cherry blossoms, rapeseed flowers, peach blossoms, and pear blossoms all in full bloom this month.

But at these spots or during these times, you should expect some crowds:

In popular spots like Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli Old Street, Chengdu Panda Research Base, and Sanxingdui Museum, you'll still see many visitors, but not much crowded than peak season.

But just note that Chengdu hosts China Food and Drinks Fair (possibly falls between Mar 14-27) every year. During this time, Traffic tends to be heavier, hotel and flight prices often rise, and rooms can be hard to find.

So, if you're not attending the fair (usually for distributors rather than regular tourists), you can consider planning your visit outside this period.

Where Can I Catch Chengdu's Spring in March?

Dujiangyan: See Both Day and Night Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossom I caught in Dujiangyan

Every year in late March, you can stumble upon a cherry blossom encounter at Water Street (Taiping Street) in Dujiangyan, just next to the Yangtianwo Square.

The street is lined with blooming white and pink cherry trees, and paired with the surrounding European-style architecture, it makes you feel as if you've wandered into a cherry blossom street in Japan.

But during the day, the street can get busy with people and cars. If you stay overnight in Dujiangyan, I also recommend enjoying the night blossoms after 10pm. The street is more peaceful, and the cherry blossoms glow softly under the lights, creating another dreamlike moment.

Longquan Mountain: Peach Flower and Hakka Tulou

Peach Flower in Longquan Mountain

Every year from late March to early April, the peach and pear blossoms of Longquan Mountain blanket the slopes. When you are here, you just feel like stepping into the peach grove from the drama Eternal Love (三生三世十里桃花).

You can hike along the 6 km ridge of Longquan Mountain, walking on paths carpeted with pink petals, with peach and pear blossoms stretching for miles before you and blooming overhead.

But not just viewing. The yearly International Peach Blossom Festival is held here, and the main venue is in nearby Luodai Ancient Town. There, you can join festive activities like peach grove banquets, flower-wearing parades, and song-and-dance performances.

The Hakka Tulou in Luodai Ancient Town

Luodai is also a Hakka town, so here you'll see tulou-style buildings just like in Big Fish & Begonia. You can even hear Hakka ladies singing in their dialect and taste local specialties like Hakka Grinding Tea and Sad Bean Jelly.

And if you or your ancestors come from the southeastern coast of China, like Fujian or Meizhou, this inland town can also surprisingly evoke you a sense of hometown familiarity.

Tianfu Greenway: Cycle across the Golden Rapeseed Fields

Rapeseed fields in Chengdu

Rapeseed is an important crop in Chengdu, and March is its peak blooming season. This is when you'll find the fields turning into seas of golden flowers, especially along the Tianfu Greenway.

Besides walking, if you're into cycling, I'd also recommend riding along the Tianfu Greenway to enjoy the golden flower seas. With the warm and cloudy weather, cycling feels more comfortable without the harsh sun.

Think of yourself leisurely riding through golden rapeseed fields, breathing in their fresh fragrance, or stop for taking some photo...just soaking up the brightness of Chengdu's spring.

As the Greenway circles around the city, you can simply choose one section to explore by bike:

• Longtan New Area Park: rapeseed fields with railways, trains, and even high-speed trains in the backdrop, yet surprisingly quiet.
• Sanshengxiang: terraced rapeseed flower fields, peaceful and less crowded.
• Sanyuan Metro Station: a mix of rapeseed and wheat fields, perfect for both cycling and walking, but this spot draws the biggest crowds.
• Qinglong Lake: cycle on elevated paths with sweeping views over the rapeseed fields below.

Panda Valley: Surrounded by Alpine Azaleas

Panda Valley. These pink alpine azaleas are Rhododendron agastum Balf.

When you step into Panda Valley in March, the first thing to greet you isn't the giant pandas or red pandas, but the blooming alpine azaleas and magnolias lining the paths, in shades of red, white, pink, and yellow.

You may wonder, "Wait, I'm here for pandas, so why does it feel like I've wandered into a stunning garden?"

Indeed, Panda Valley is the most beautiful panda base in Chengdu, with lush vegetation and spring flowers in full bloom. If you visit this month, it offers the best of both worlds: you can enjoy the blossoms and watch the pandas, all in mild weather similar to the city center.

Panda Valley

What are the other panda bases like in March?

We also checked out other panda bases, but in the end, Panda Valley is still the best place to see pandas this month.

In comparison, Chengdu Panda Research Base is crowded, Wolong is too cold in March at around 5°C (41°F), and although Dujiangyan Panda Base has some scattered pear blossoms, the vegetation in and around the enclosures is still quite sparse this season.

Tip: Visit Panda Valley in the morning (8–10 am is ideal), when the pandas are most active and the weather is cooler. In the afternoon, it can get warmer around 26°C (79°F), and the pandas tend to nap more.

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