Shanghai Holiday Weather Overview
Shanghai is the largest city when it comes down to population in China and the wider world. It is a global financial centre and is the world’s busiest container port. It can be found on the Yangtze River Delta in eastern China.
Shanghai is one of China’s municipalities and borders the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang as well as the East China Sea.
Best food and places to eat in Shanghai
Shanghai has some incredible restaurants and cafes to choose from when it comes to food. There is a wide range of Asian, Japanese, Italian and Barbecue restaurants to choose from as well as surprising number of pubs. As you would expect there are far more Chinese cuisine variations on offer than any other type of food.
When it comes to Italian cuisine in Shanghai there are restaurants such as Goodfellas, Sale e Pepe Italian Restaurant & Wine bar, Le Café des Stagiaires, Fatty’s Fresh Café, the Cathay Room and Nolita.
The different types of Chinese cuisine on offer in Shanghai include Chinese Hotpot, Yunnan, Street Food, Cantonese, Xinjiang, Shanghai and Hunan. There are lots of restaurants that serve one or more of these cuisines that include Di Shui Dong, Hakkasan, Jade Garden, Xibo, Din Tai Fung, Jia Jia Tang Bao, Fortune Cookie, Yang’s Fried-Dumpling, Hai Di Lao Hotpot, Lost Heaven on the Bund and Din Tai Fung.
Top hotels in Shanghai
Shanghai has a wide range of accommodation to choose from that include hotels, hostels, inns and apartments.
Hotels in Shanghai include the Mandarin Oriental Pudong, the Puli Hotel and Spa, the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, the Peninsula Shanghai, the Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai, the Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund and the Kerry Hotel Pudong Shanghai.
For those who would rather stay in apartments there are places such as the CHAI Living Serviced Apartments. If instead you are looking for a hostel, inn or bed & breakfast there are places like the Yingdu Hotel, the Shang Hai She Shan Lin Sen Hotel, the Find Us Inn, the Jin Rui Hotel, the Four Seasons Farmhouse and the Koala Garden Hostel.
Things to do and see in Shanghai
There are lots of things to see and do in Shanghai that include The Bund which is the epitome of modern Shanghai, the Bund International Architecture Exhibition that shows off some of the highlights of Shanghai’s architectural brilliance, and the Shanghai Circus World which is a stunning performance for all the family to enjoy.
If you are more interested in historical side of Shanghai then there are places such as the Shanghai Museum, the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre, the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, the Shanghai History Museum and the Shanghai Maglev Museum.
When is the best month to visit Shanghai?
The best time to visit Shanghai is either during the spring or autumn when temperatures are warm and pleasant. The amount of rain is a lot lower than during the summer and more comfortable than the cold temperatures experienced in winter. The spring and autumn provide the ideal conditions to explore the city and enjoy the outdoor attractions it has to offer.
Humid and Subtropical
Shanghai is known for hot and humid summers, but surprisingly its winters can be bitterly cold. The city is also vulnerable to typhoons in the summer and autumn, although these usually pass without causing major damage.
Shanghai in the Summer
Summer temperatures in Shanghai are in the 27-30°C range, but because this is also Shanghai's wettest season, the humidity can make it feel sticky and uncomfortable. June, July and August finds many local people sleeping outside on the pavements in an effort to keep cool - unless you are good with heat, you might want to avoid visiting at this time.
If you do visit Shanghai in the summer, take a hat and plenty of changes of lightweight cotton clothing. Go easy and acclimatise yourself to the heat before trying to do too much.
Shanghai in the Autumn
During September, October and November, temperatures in Shanghai start to fall, but it's still mild. From the low 20s in September to around 13°C in November, day time temperatures are pleasant, and night time temperatures rarely fall below 10°C.
Autumn in a popular time for tourists visiting Shanghai, as the weather is much more comfortable - however, it's also the peak time for business travel, so hotels tend to be more expensive and the city can be crowded. If you're visiting Shanghai in the Autumn, bring a cover-up or jacket for the cooler evenings.
Shanghai in the Winter
Shanghai's winter months, December, January and February, are decidedly cool, with daily highs of around 4-6°C and overnight temperatures which can fall below freezing. Snow is quite rare, falling for only 1 or 2 days a year, but it can feel bitterly cold when winds blow from Siberia.
Shanghai in the Spring
Spring is a very popular and pleasant time to visit Shanghai, especially during the cherry blossom season. Temperatures are mild and pleasant and although there are plenty of showers, the rain is not non-stop. From a start of around 13°C, expect the heat to climb steadily towards and into May, by which point the humidity will also be rising. If you're visiting Shanghai in the spring, you'll need loose, layered clothing and an umbrella.
Other Considerations
Apart from the weather, it's important to consider local Chinese holidays when deciding when to visit Shanghai. Chinese New Year, although exciting and colourful, is a time when many businesses and attractions are shut for days, sometimes almost a week either side of the event itself. The National Day holiday on the 1st October also causes extended shut downs for far longer than the one single day, so beware of attempting to travel at this time.
What to pack and wear in Shanghai?
If you are visiting Shanghai during the summer you will need to be prepared for rain, whether that means simply carrying an umbrella or waterproof coat to keep you dry. In the hot summer months light clothing is more than enough, though in winter, especially in January you will need lots of thick winter clothing to cope with the cold both inside and outside. In spring and autumn long clothing is sensible to bring as well as warmer layers to cope with the changes in temperature.
Best months to visit Shanghai?
May and October are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Shanghai. The weather averages gathered from Shanghai weather forecast and Shanghai weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 25°c and average of 183.9333 hours of sunshine in a month.
Coldest months of Shanghai?
January and February are the coldest months with temperature at around 3°c.
Which months receive most rainfall in Shanghai?
June and July receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 300.57mm.
Travelling to Shanghai? Check out our Weather averages of Shanghai to better plan your holiday or travel.
If you would just like to know what the weather was for a past dates for research or education or you are just curious then visit our historical weather of Shanghai section.