Anshan has a continental climate. Summers are warm and humid; winters are cold and dry. The best time to visit Qianshan National Park is autumn — September and October — when the foliage turns on the forested ridges and the crowds are smaller than on summer weekends. Spring is also pleasant, with cherry blossoms and other flowering trees appearing on the hillsides in April and May.
The Qianshan Great Buddha Festival is held each June, drawing large crowds to the park for religious observances centred on the naturally occurring Maitreya Buddha formation. If you are not interested in the festival itself, avoid the park on that weekend.