Kangding Weather and Best Time to Visit

There are two climates in Kangding Area from west to east, both are influenced by monsoon, which means spring (April - May) and autumn (October - early November) are fairly short in this area, summer (June - September) is only slightly longer. Spring temperature is normally between 0°C to 16°C. Autumn is the best season to experience the colorfulness of Kangding but fairy short, temperature are normally range from 1°C to 12°C. Winter is the longest season of all, running mainly from mid-November until late March. The temperature is low during winter, lowest temperature can reach to -9.4°C. The temperature averages around 20°C at the height of summer.

Spring (April to May) - feel the vibrant spring in Kangding Area

Spring is the best time to immerse in the blossom fairyland in Kangding Area. Visit Mount Gongga to see azalea blooms in the early spring around the area Minya Konka, or you can explore the vitality and beauty in Mugecuo to feel the appealing scene of spring returning back to earth. Spring is also a good season to visit Hailuogou Glacier Park for the temperature is warmer than winter, but you still have a chance to appreciate the magnificent of massive glacier in N0.1 Camp. In eighth day of fourth month in Chinese lunar calender, people will hold a competition of horse racing on Paoma Grassland (跑马坪) in Kangding.

Spring temperatures are normally between 0°C to 16°C throughout the season. Rains start falling more in May, monthly perception is about 132mm, about 4 times as much as in April.

Recommended Places to Visit: Mount Gongga, Mugecuo Scenic Area, Hailuogou Glacier Park

What to Wear

The climate in plateau mountain area is quite diverse, temperature shows great difference between day and night. So You will need to wear sweaters and thick coats to keep out the cold. Sunblocks, sunglasses and hats are also necessary for UV protection.

Autumn (October - early November) - Collect colorful fancy Xinduqiao world deep into your heart

The cool breeze, crisp air, golden autumn sky and the wonderful sunshine is what makes autumn the perfect time for taking a hike and photographing outdoors, enjoying every inch of nature changing its color. So people, old and young, love to go sightseeing during these months. Take picturesque photos of fall scenery at “the paradise for photographer” - Xinduqiao. Visit Mugecuo and Seven-colored Sea in Mugecuo Scenic Area, watch white fluffy clouds, red, orange, golden leaves, lofty snow mountains reflect on the surface of clam water. Gallop on the endless Tagong Grassland. Feel the extreme romance to ride on the Paoma Mountain, melody of Kangding Love song reverberates in your head. Hike through the primitive forest to feel the endless glamour of deep autumn in Hailuogou.

Autumn temperatures are normally between 0°C to 12°C. Precipitation would be much lower than summer with about 50mm in October.

Recommended Places to Visit: Xinduqiao, Mugecuo Scenic Area, Tagong Grassland, Paoma Mountain, Hailuogou Glacier Park, Mount Gongga

What to Wear

Sweaters, trousers, thick coats and down jackets are recommended to keep out the cold. Sunblocks, sunglasses and hats are also necessary for UV protection.

Winter (mid-November - late March) - immerse in the ice kingdom and admire the masterpiece of nature in Hailuogou Glacier Park

Even winter is considerably cold in Kangding. But it is still considered as the best season to appreciate the snow scenery in this west Sichuan ice kingdom. You can head to Hailuogou Glacier Park to worship the massive glaciers. Feeling tired after a long full trip, have a rest at hot springs in Kangding or in Hailuogou to feel the nice distinct experience of “warm and cold”. Then spend some time to visit famous monasteries and temples in or near Kangding City, such as Nanwu Temple, Jingang Temple, Tagong Monastery etc. Strolling through the temple allows one to appreciate the Buddhism and gain a better understanding of the religion’s culture and deeper insights into life.

Winter in Kangding is cold and dry. The lowest temperature in winter night could be down to -9.4°C and the highest temperature during daytime is only about 10°C. There is almost no rainfall or snowfall in December, January and February. The amount of precipitation starts to grow, about 51mm in March.

(Notice: Winter is a snowy time of year in Kangding and temperature is pretty low, there are many twisty and snow covered path, steep slopes with frequent fog and cat ice on the way to Kangding from Chengdu by car, which is challenging and needs some snow driving experience.)

Recommended Places to Visit: Hailuogou Glacier Park, Nanwu Temple, Kangding City

What to Wear

Snug yourself up with Thermal underwears, sweaters, down jackets, gloves and scarves. For those who love hiking, alpenstocks and skid proof shoes are necessary. In addition, wear a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sunshine reflected by the snow.

Summer (June - September) - leave behind the scorching sun in metropolises and gallop across the vast Tagong Grassland

Summer is the monsoon season in Kangding area, temperature reaches to its’ highest in a year. Rainy days increase a lot. Even though, if you are planning to go to Kangding Area in summer, there are also a lot of things to do. A major three-day Buddha Event is held at the end of June every year at the Tagong Monastery, travelers can participate in temple activities, including meditation and daily circumambulation. The vast grassland in Tagong was covered with tender grasses and chromatic wild flowers, set on the soft and comfortable grassland, look in a distance or close your eyes for a while to feel the breeze gently across your check, left all worries behind.

Temperature reaches to the highest in July around 18°C during daytime. Precipitation increase a lot in summer, reach the peak in June with around 210mm monthly rainfall. Average monthly rainfall during summer is around 170mm.

(Notice: There are many twisty path, steep slopes with frequent fog on the road from Chengdu to Kangding which needs very careful driving. There would be a risk of landslide and mud-rock flow on the mountain road during rainy season.)

Recommended Places to Visit: Tagong Grassland, Mugecuo Scenic Area, Xinduqiao

What to Wear

Short sleeves and pants are recommended, dresses for girls during daytime are also good choice for taking pictures. You can also bring a thin coat with you to prevent sudden change of the weather. The chance of rain increase a lot during summer so don’t forget to bring waterproof hiking shoes, raincoats and umbrella with you. In sunny days, sunblocks, sunglasses and hats are highly suggested for UV protection.

Average Temperature & Rainfall of Kangding