Weather and climate in Shanghai
Due to its proximity to the South China Sea, Shanghai enjoys a relatively mild but often humid maritime and subtropical climate. There are four distinct seasons throughout the year: a very pleasant spring with high temperatures, a very hot but very rainy summer, a mild autumn, and finally, a dark and rather cold winter. For a stay in Shanghai, the weather will be more pleasant in spring and autumn. Also note that the center is much hotter and drier than the suburbs. This also exacerbates the pollution and climate problems in Shanghai.
Spring in Shanghai:
Spring in Shanghai lasts from March to May. This is undoubtedly the most pleasant time of year to visit the city. The buds are in bloom, and Shanghai becomes much more lively. Temperatures hover around 20°C. Choose transitional clothing such as long-sleeved T-shirts or light sweaters. The occasional showers that may fall shouldn’t disrupt your schedule too much.
Summer in Shanghai:
Summer is the longest season in Shanghai, lasting from June to September. However, it’s also a season with unpredictable weather: typhoons, heavy downpours, and sweltering heat. For about ten days between July and August, temperatures can reach well over 35°C. To best adapt to this climate, we recommend avoiding going out around 2 p.m., dressing lightly, and drinking more water than usual to avoid dehydration.
Autumn in Shanghai:
From October to November, the autumn climate is excellent for planning your trip, even if it rains occasionally until the end of November. During this period, mid-season clothing and light jackets will be more than appropriate.
Winter in Shanghai:
A Shanghai, l’hiver est relativement court, de décembre à février. Les températures ne descendent pas autant que dans les villes du Nord de la Chine comme Pékin mais elles descendent fréquemment en dessous de 10°C. Cette météo est toutefois très difficile à supporter dans la mesure où soufflent de violents vents froids. Munissez-vous de vêtements suffisamment chauds pour lutter contre la rudesse de l’hiver.
Temperatures and rainfall in Shanghai – Annual climate
|
Month
|
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
August |
Sept. |
October |
Nov. |
Dec. |
|
|
Temp. (°C)
|
Maxi |
8 |
9 |
13 |
19 |
24 |
28 |
32 |
32 |
28 |
23 |
17 |
11 |
|
Mini |
0 |
1 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
24 |
24 |
20 |
14 |
9 |
3 |
|
|
Rain
|
mm |
46 |
61 |
84 |
91 |
112 |
163 |
140 |
142 |
2.6 |
56 |
51 |
38 |
Weather in the rest of China
Find out below in detail the weather, climate, and best times to travel to other major destinations in China.
Weather Beijing Weather Shanghai Weather Guiyang Weather Guilin
Weather Xian Weather Fujian Weather Canton Weather Shanxi