Winter
Dec → Feb9 to 11°
nights 2 to 3°
- 8 rainy days · 61 mm
When is the best time to visit Shanghai?
- Jan9°not recommended
- Feb11°fair
- Mar16°recommended
- Apr20°recommended
- May25°recommended
- Jun28°fair
- Jul32°not recommended
- Aug32°fair
- Sep28°recommended
- Oct23°recommended
- Nov18°recommended
- Dec11°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Shanghai, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9° | 2° | 67 mm | 8 d | |
| February | 11° | 3° | 69 mm | 9 d | |
| March | 16° | 7° | 81 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| April | 20° | 11° | 101 mm | 10 d | ✓ |
| May | 25° | 16° | 132 mm | 12 d | ✓ |
| June | 28° | 21° | 264 mm | 17 d | |
| July | 32° | 25° | 216 mm | 18 d | |
| August | 32° | 26° | 131 mm | 15 d | |
| September | 28° | 22° | 174 mm | 14 d | ✓ |
| October | 23° | 16° | 78 mm | 8 d | ✓ |
| November | 18° | 11° | 80 mm | 10 d | ✓ |
| December | 11° | 3° | 46 mm | 7 d |
The four seasons in Shanghai, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (The Bund) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May16 to 25°
nights 7 to 16°
- 11 rainy days · 105 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug28 to 32°
nights 21 to 26°
- 17 rainy days · 204 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov18 to 28°
nights 11 to 22°
- 11 rainy days · 111 mm
Book early for March to May and September to November
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Shanghai, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h10 of daylight, in December 10h07, a difference of 4h03.
10h19Jan
11h02Feb
11h54Mar
12h54Apr
13h44May
14h10Jun
13h59Jul
13h17Aug
12h19Sep
11h21Oct
10h31Nov
10h07Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "The Bund" (31.24°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Shanghai, month by month
EventsLunar New YearJanuary to FebruaryYu Garden lanternsJanuary to FebruaryGucun Park cherry blossomsMarch to AprilNational Day Golden WeekOctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December
- Long days: June
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Shanghai, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- January to FebruaryLunar New Year
The city empties of its workers from the provinces for a week, with crowded temples and many shops closed.
- January to FebruaryYu Garden lanterns big crowds
Yu Garden and its lanes are lit up with paper lanterns for the two weeks following Lunar New Year.
- March to AprilGucun Park cherry blossoms
Gucun Park, in the north of the city, opens its cherry blossom festival when thousands of trees flower, in late March.
- OctoberNational Day Golden Week big crowds
The public holiday week in early October puts the whole country on the move, with crowded sights and fully booked trains and hotels.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended9°2° at night
- 67 mm · 8 d
Busy, without the crush
February
Fair11°3° at night
- 69 mm · 9 d
Busy, without the crush
March
Recommended16°7° at night
- 81 mm · 11 d
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended20°11° at night
- 101 mm · 10 d
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended25°16° at night
- 132 mm · 12 d
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair28°21° at night
- 264 mm · 17 d
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended32°25° at night
- 216 mm · 18 d
Low season, lower prices
August
Fair32°26° at night
- 131 mm · 15 d
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended28°22° at night
- 174 mm · 14 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended23°16° at night
- 78 mm · 8 d
High season, book early
November
Recommended18°11° at night
- 80 mm · 10 d
Busy, without the crush
December
Fair11°3° at night
- 46 mm · 7 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 9 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (67 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
February. Cool: 11 °C at best, 3 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (69 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 16 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (81 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
April. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (101 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
May. 25 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (132 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
June. 28 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Frequent rain: 264 mm over 17 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 216 mm of rain over 18 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 131 mm over 15 days. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 28 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Frequent rain: 174 mm over 14 days. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (78 mm). High season: book early.
November. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (80 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
December. Cool: 11 °C at best, 3 °C at night. Rain stays light: 46 mm over 7 days. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Shanghai?
March to May and September to November: over these months, recorded highs range from 16 to 28 °C, with 11 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, The Bund).
Which month should you avoid in Shanghai?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 216 mm over 18 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (The Bund).
What is the hottest month in Shanghai?
July, with 32 °C on average in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (The Bund).
What is the coldest month in Shanghai?
January, with 9 °C at best during the day and 2 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (The Bund).
What is the driest month in Shanghai?
December: 46 mm over 7 days of rain, against 264 mm in June, the wettest month.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Shanghai guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit China: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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