Best Time to Visit Changchun

May and September: the sweet spots

If you want easy walking weather, pick May or September. Both top our comfort score. Days reach about 22°C, and nights are cool but not harsh.

May is fresh and green. Lilacs and crabapples flower in the city's parks, and it's a good time to wander Changchun's big green spaces like Nanhu Park or the grounds of the Puppet Emperor's Palace (the former home of Puyi, China's last emperor). It does rain on about 10 days, but showers are usually short. September is drier and sunnier, with the most sunshine of the year. Leaves start turning late in the month, and the evenings feel crisp.

Summer: warm, green and wet

June to August is the warm season. July is the hottest month at 29°C, and it's also the wettest, with 162 mm of rain. Rain falls on about 17 days in both June and July, so you'll want a flexible plan. Afternoons feel sticky, and downpours can wipe out a day of outdoor sights.

It's still a fine time for indoor stops. The Jilin Provincial Museum and the Changchun Film Studio Museum are good for a rainy afternoon. Changchun is known as China's "film city," so the second one fits. Travelling with kids? Summer school holidays bring more families to the parks and the Jingyuetan area, a large forested reserve on the southeast edge of the city. Expect busier weekends there, but nothing like the big coastal resorts.

Winter: cold, white and fun if you're ready

From December to February, highs stay below freezing. January is the coldest month, with highs of -10°C and lows of -21°C. The air is dry and sharp, and snow stays on the ground for months. Our data rates all three months Poor for comfort, so be honest with yourself about how much cold you enjoy.

Yet winter is the city's own kind of high season. The Jingyuetan area turns into a snow playground, and ski resorts nearby draw weekend crowds, especially around Chinese New Year in late January or February. If you love snow and ice, you'll get it here. If you hate being cold, skip it.

Spring and autumn shoulders

March is still bitter at night, with lows of -8°C, and thaw makes the streets slushy. April is a gentle step up and rates Good. October is also Good, with clear skies and highs around 13°C. By November, the cold is back. Autumn is a smart pick if you'd like fewer crowds than summer and clearer views than July.