Chongqing is one of China's "Three Furnaces" — a nickname shared with Wuhan and Nanjing for summer heat that can be ferocious. July and August temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, combined with high humidity. The fog that gives the city its atmospheric character is most pronounced from October to March. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable times to visit.
The Chinese New Year holiday (January or February) sees the city at its most festive but also busiest. Summer, despite the heat, brings the most vivid night scenes as residents take to the outdoors and the riverside promenades fill up. The Yangtze is at its highest and most navigable from June to September.