Our verdict
The best time to visit Shanghai is April-May
In the summer months, temperatures tend to get to a maximum of around 35℃ (95℉). In the winter months, it can get down to as low as -1℃ (30℉) at night.
If you’re a sun-chaser and want to visit Shanghai when the days are longest, you should visit in August. On average it rains the most days in June, making it the wettest month of the year. Although it’s the wet season, it can often rain a little bit during the day or evening but have fine weather for a majority of the day too, so don’t let this put you off.
Keep reading to find all the info you need (and none of the stuff you don’t) about the best times to go to Shanghai. By the time you get to the bottom, you’ll be ready to start booking your trip.
Quick links: Fast facts / Seasons / Average temperatures / Monthly climate / FAQs / Map
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Shanghai seasons
Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Shanghai as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Shanghai is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the seasons fall during these months:
| Season | Months |
|---|---|
| Summer | June to August |
| Autumn/fall | September to November |
| Winter | December to February |
| Spring | March to May |
Average temperatures in Shanghai
If the temperature is a big factor for you to help you decide when to visit, the chart below shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Shanghai for each month side-by-side so you can easily see the difference in weather throughout the year. To see the temperatures in both Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F), hover or tap the shaded boxes on the graph.
Shanghai climate by month
If you already have a rough idea about which months you might want to travel, the section below shows a detailed breakdown of the climate in Shanghai for each month so you can see if it all suits your wants and needs. Scroll down, or use the quick menu below to jump to your preferred month.
Jump to:
Shanghai in January
- Average temperature: 6℃ (43℉)
- Average high temperature: 9℃ (48℉)
- Average low temperature: 3℃ (38℉)
- Average humidity: 68%
- Average sunny days: 19 days
- Average rainfall: 25mm (1") over 10 days
- Average snow days: 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in January, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Shanghai in February
- Average temperature: 7℃ (45℉)
- Average high temperature: 10℃ (51℉)
- Average low temperature: 4℃ (40℉)
- Average humidity: 72%
- Average sunny days: 16 days
- Average rainfall: 31mm (1") over 10 days
- Average snow days: 1 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in February, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Shanghai in March
- Average temperature: 11℃ (51℉)
- Average high temperature: 15℃ (58℉)
- Average low temperature: 7℃ (44℉)
- Average humidity: 73%
- Average sunny days: 17 days
- Average rainfall: 41mm (2") over 13 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in March, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Shanghai in April
- Average temperature: 16℃ (60℉)
- Average high temperature: 20℃ (68℉)
- Average low temperature: 11℃ (52℉)
- Average humidity: 72%
- Average sunny days: 17 days
- Average rainfall: 24mm (1") over 11 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in April, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.
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Shanghai in May
- Average temperature: 21℃ (70℉)
- Average high temperature: 25℃ (77℉)
- Average low temperature: 17℃ (63℉)
- Average humidity: 71%
- Average sunny days: 18 days
- Average rainfall: 35mm (1") over 12 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in May, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.
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Shanghai in June
- Average temperature: 24℃ (75℉)
- Average high temperature: 27℃ (81℉)
- Average low temperature: 21℃ (70℉)
- Average humidity: 80%
- Average sunny days: 13 days
- Average rainfall: 86mm (3") over 16 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in June, make sure you pack t-shirts and light clothing.
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Shanghai in July
- Average temperature: 28℃ (83℉)
- Average high temperature: 32℃ (89℉)
- Average low temperature: 25℃ (77℉)
- Average humidity: 81%
- Average sunny days: 14 days
- Average rainfall: 79mm (3") over 15 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in July, make sure you pack t-shirts and shorts.. It stays warm all day and night.
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Shanghai in August
- Average temperature: 28℃ (83℉)
- Average high temperature: 32℃ (89℉)
- Average low temperature: 25℃ (78℉)
- Average humidity: 80%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 72mm (3") over 15 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in August, make sure you pack t-shirts and shorts.. It stays warm all day and night.
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Shanghai in September
- Average temperature: 24℃ (76℉)
- Average high temperature: 27℃ (81℉)
- Average low temperature: 21℃ (70℉)
- Average humidity: 79%
- Average sunny days: 13 days
- Average rainfall: 72mm (3") over 15 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in September, make sure you pack t-shirts and light clothing.
Shanghai in October
- Average temperature: 20℃ (68℉)
- Average high temperature: 23℃ (74℉)
- Average low temperature: 17℃ (62℉)
- Average humidity: 71%
- Average sunny days: 21 days
- Average rainfall: 25mm (1") over 8 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in October, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.
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Shanghai in November
- Average temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
- Average high temperature: 18℃ (64℉)
- Average low temperature: 12℃ (54℉)
- Average humidity: 70%
- Average sunny days: 18 days
- Average rainfall: 28mm (1") over 10 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in November, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie.
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Shanghai in December
- Average temperature: 8℃ (47℉)
- Average high temperature: 11℃ (52℉)
- Average low temperature: 6℃ (42℉)
- Average humidity: 65%
- Average sunny days: 21 days
- Average rainfall: 34mm (1") over 9 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Shanghai in December, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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