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Best time to visit Shanghai: month by month
Short answer
Spring (April–May) and autumn (late September–November) are best, with highs of about 18–25°C. June brings the plum rain, July and August are hot and humid (about 32°C, with rain on 15–20 days), and winter is cool and damp (about 10–11°C by day).
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10°C | 1°C | 7 | low |
| Feb | 11°C | 4°C | 11 | medium |
| Mar | 16°C | 8°C | 13 | medium |
| Apr | 21°C | 12°C | 9 | high |
| May | 25°C | 17°C | 11 | high |
| Jun | 29°C | 22°C | 15 | medium |
| Jul | 32°C | 26°C | 20 | high |
| Aug | 32°C | 26°C | 15 | high |
| Sep | 28°C | 22°C | 14 | medium |
| Oct | 23°C | 16°C | 7 | very high |
| Nov | 18°C | 10°C | 8 | medium |
| Dec | 11°C | 2°C | 5 | low |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
About 16°C in March, 21°C in April and 25°C in May; pleasant but with regular showers.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot and humid, about 29–32°C with lows of 22–26°C; the plum rain in June and typhoon risk in late summer.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September (about 28°C) is still warm; October (23°C) and November (18°C) are the most comfortable, and hairy crab is in season.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cool and damp, about 10–11°C by day and 1–4°C at night; the Spring Festival brings lanterns at Yu Garden.
Events worth planning around
- Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and the Lantern Festival at Yu Garden (January–March, by the lunar calendar)
- Labour Day holiday, about 1–5 May
- Shanghai International Film Festival (June)
- National Day Golden Week, 1–7 October
When to avoid
Avoid Golden Week (1–7 October) and the Spring Festival if you dislike crowds; avoid June to August if heat, humidity and rain bother you.
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Common questions
What is the best time to visit Shanghai?
April–May and late September–November.
When is the plum rain?
Usually in June, with frequent rain and high humidity.
When is hairy crab season?
Roughly late September to December.