Best Time to Visit Meishan

March and November: the sweet spots

March is the pick if you want spring. Days are mild, around 20°C, and nights are cool enough for a jacket. Rain comes on about 12 days, but it's usually light. November is the other good choice, with 18°C afternoons and far less rain than summer. Both months are easy for walking around Sansu Park, the old Su family memorial temple (Sansu Temple) in town, which honours the poet Su Shi and his family. If you like gentle days with no sweat, aim here.

Meishan is in the Sichuan Basin, so skies are often grey. Even the best months only get about two hours of sun a day. Don't expect postcard blue. Do expect soft light and green hills.

Summer and early autumn: hot, wet, sticky

From June to September, the rain is steady and the air is heavy. July and August are the hottest, both with highs of 32 and 31°C, and they're also the wettest, with 274 and 275 mm each. Rain falls on 22 days in both months, and September matches that with 22 rainy days. Humidity stays high, so afternoons feel sticky and clothes dry slowly.

This isn't a bad time for everything. If you're happy with museums, teahouses and long hotpot dinners, summer works. It's also easier to find a quiet corner. Outdoor trips, though, are a gamble. Muddy paths and fog are common.

Winter and spring crowds

December to February is cool and fairly dry. Highs sit between 11 and 14°C, and nights drop to 2 to 4°C. Houses here often have no central heating, so evenings can feel colder than the numbers say. A bowl of spicy noodles helps. Dongpo-style pork (a braised pork dish linked to Su Shi) is also a good choice.

Chinese New Year falls in January or February, and it's the busiest travel time. Many locals visit family, some small restaurants close for a few days, and trains are packed. If you want fewer crowds, go just after the holiday, in late February or March.

April and May get warmer and wetter, with rain on 16 and 19 days. They're still pleasant if you carry an umbrella. Spring is also a good time to pair Meishan with a trip to nearby Chengdu, which is a short train ride away.

October is damp and the grayest month, with only about one hour of sun a day. It's quiet, though, if you don't mind cloud.