Best Time to Visit Wuchang

Spring and autumn are the sweet spots

Wuchang is the old walled district of Wuhan, on the south bank of the Yangtze. The best months are October and November, when it's mild, drier and fairly clear. Days are comfortable for walking, and you won't be dripping by lunchtime.

Spring comes close. March and April are Good, with fresh air and the city turning green. Rain is frequent, though, so expect drizzly days. April is the better pick if you want warmth.

Summer: hot, wet and sticky

June and July are the wettest months, with rain on 15 or 16 days. July is also very muggy. August is the hottest, at a high of 33°C, though it's a bit drier and sunnier. Wuhan is nicknamed one of China's "furnaces", and August nights barely cool off.

If you come anyway, plan your day around the heat. Visit Hubei Provincial Museum in the morning, home of the Marquis Yi bronze bells. Spend the afternoon indoors, then walk the Yangtze riverside once the sun drops. Yellow Crane Tower is far more pleasant after dusk, when it's lit up.

Summer is also Chinese school holiday season, from July into August. Sights get busier with families, even if the weather is rough.

Winter: cold, damp and quiet

December is the driest month, but it's chilly. January is the coldest, with lows at freezing. Buildings here often have little heating, so indoor spaces can feel colder than you expect. Warm up with a bowl of hot-dry noodles (*re gan mian*), the city's famous breakfast.

Winter suits you if you hate crowds and don't mind grey skies. Sun is limited, at around three hours a day in January and February.

Events and crowds

Late March is cherry blossom time at Wuhan University, in Wuchang. It's lovely, but it draws huge crowds, so go on a weekday if you can. Dragon Boat Festival, usually in June, brings races on the Yangtze and East Lake, though the weather is wet.

The two big crowd peaks are the National Day holiday in the first week of October and Chinese New Year, in January or February. Early October is the best weather of the year, but busy. Aim for late October or November, when it's just as pleasant and calmer.