Shanghai Weather in September

From early to late September, Shanghai weather transitions from stuffy to a bit cool. As for rainfall, showers occur frequently but don’t significantly impact travel; besides, there is a relatively high probability of a typhoon striking, especially around the middle of the month. It may not be a perfect time to visit Shanghai. That said, September is a rare time when Shanghai isn’t overly crowded, except around the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Zhujiajiao View in September

 Traveling to Shanghai in the first half of September, you will basically have hot and not very comfortable experiences during your outdoor visits, especially in the daytime. Generally speaking, Shanghai is still in summer at this time, and the daily high temperature is mainly in the range of 30-35 degrees Celsius (86-95 degrees Fahrenheit) and reaches 36-38°C (97-100°F) occasionally. On top of that, the humid air makes the weather muggy. Nighttime tours are indeed a little more comfortable than daytime ones, but don’t expect the weather to turn cool: the daily low is at 25-28°C (68-82°F), and on sunny days, the temperature is still high at around 30°C (86°F) at 21:00.

Entering the second half month, the temperature shows a downward trend. Most of the time, the daily high and low hovers around 30°C (86°F) and 23°C (73°F), respectively, indicating that you will no longer feel uncomfortably hot at that time. Note that exceptions may exist, for instance, in 2025, several days in late September still experienced hot daytime with the high temperature of 34-35°C (93-95°F).

Visitors in Shanghai in Hot Early September

 Rain falls frequently this month in Shanghai: there are 13 rainy days on average. Fortunately, not all of them will influence your trip.

Most of the time, the rain comes and stops quickly and usually in the afternoon, though sometimes heavy. In other words, when encountering rain during your tour this month, you can head to a cafe to take shelter from the rain. Then, maybe 30 minutes later, the sun will reappear, and you can continue your outdoor visit. Moreover, this kind of rain may bring temperature drops and bring a sense of coolness.

Note that the rainfalls caused by typhoons are different. Usually, the typhoon brings long-duration and high-intensity rain, during which you may need to stop your visit and stay in your hotel for safety. Over the past five years, Shanghai experienced three direct typhoon landfalls in September, and all in mid-month.
 Daylight hours are shortening from 12.5 to 11.5 this month. If you have a packed itinerary and want to have a rest at noon, you are recommended to get up early each day to gain enough visiting time, especially if your visiting dates are in late September.

UV index is high at 9 in Shanghai in September, making sun-protection measures necessary during the sunshine hours, which average 6 hours per day.
  Clothes: During the first half month, outfits like T-shirts plus skirts, short shirts plus shorts, and dresses are good choices. If you are worried about feeling cold in air-conditioned places like the metro, just bring a light jacket. 

Traveling to Shanghai during the second half month, especially the final days of the month, thin long pants are better choices than shorts. If girls want to wear skirts, longer ones are more recommended. Besides, add thin baseball jackets or long-sleeved shirts in the morning and evening. 

 Shoes: Sandals are OK in the first half month, while thin sneakers and casual shoes are more proper in the second half month.

 Others: Umbrella, sunglasses, and hats.

In 2026, the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday will fall on September 25th-27th, and then, three days later, the National Day holiday will begin. So, starting late September, you can expect extremely large crowds and quite high hotel prices in Shanghai. 

However, in the other time of September, Shanghai is in its shoulder season. You can have relatively quiet experiences in attractions like the Yu Garden and the Bund, wait in short lines for popular items in the Disneyland Park, and have a budget-friendly trip.

Tranquil Yu Garden in September

 No matter when you visit Shanghai, you will include some of the most popular attractions like the exquisite Yu Garden, the modern and dazzling Bund, the lively Nanjing Road, and the Shanghai Museum with a rich collection. However, you should plan your itinerary carefully to ensure a more comfortable and enjoyable trip.
 For trips during this period, the biggest challenge will be the high heat. You are recommended to plan outdoor visits, such as exploring Yu Garden, in early morning. Then, during the hottest hours from 12:00-15:00, you can visit indoor attractions like the Shanghai Museum to keep cool. After that, when the heat gradually disappears, you can explore the Nanjing Road and go to the Bund to experience a beautiful sunset and the dazzling night view.

Dazzling Night View

 Special attention should be paid to the weather forecast to monitor whether there is a typhoon during your stay - this period is the peak season for typhoons. If there will be direct hit of a typhoon, you may want to advance or postpone your trip. So, you are advised to book hotels that can be canceled for free. If Shanghai is predicted to be affected only by the outer bands of a typhoon and you still plan to visit Shanghai during this period, you may want to add more indoor attractions to your travel list. 
 Climate of Shanghai turns better at this time: it is no longer very hot, and the peak typhoon season ends. So, you are prone to gaining a better travel experience during this period.

However, in 2026, if your travel days include September 25-30, especially September 25-27 the Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday, be sure to make related reservations in advance and be prepared for the higher travel expense. Besides, begin your daily trip early to avoid the main crowds. 
 It is a major cultural and tourism event held in Shanghai every September. During the festival, numerous activities are organized. Among them, the most lively, spectacular, and unmissable event is the parade of performance troupes and floats that kicks off the festival on the Bund on opening day. In addition, every evening during the festival, the Huangpu River is illuminated by a series of dazzling light shows.
 For Chinese people, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an important time for family reunion, during which many attractions in Shanghai will host celebratory events. For instance, the Yu Garden and Guyi Garden will be decorated with beautiful lanterns, and the Disneyland Park will have some festival-related performances and delicacies. 

See also:
 Autumn in Shanghai – Weather, Clothing & Travel Tips
 12 Popular Shanghai Activities to Survive Summer
 Where to Go in Shanghai in Autumn - 11 Best Destinations
5 Things You Must Do in Shanghai in September

Sep	Temperature		Sunrise / Sunset	Humi- dity (%)
	High	Low
1	30.5°C / 86.9°F	24.5°C / 76.1°F	05:30 / 18:17	75
2	29.2°C / 84.6°F	24.0°C / 75.2°F	05:31 / 18:16	76
3	29.6°C / 85.3°F	23.4°C / 74.1°F	05:32 / 18:15	66
4	28.8°C / 83.8°F	24.1°C / 75.4°F	05:32 / 18:14	70
5	28.6°C / 83.5°F	23.5°C / 74.3°F	05:33 / 18:13	61
6	27.7°C / 81.9°F	22.2°C / 72.0°F	05:33 / 18:11	57
7	28.1°C / 82.6°F	20.7°C / 69.3°F	05:34 / 18:10	62
8	31.9°C / 89.4°F	24.4°C / 75.9°F	05:34 / 18:09	72
9	28.4°C / 83.1°F	22.6°C / 72.7°F	05:35 / 18:08	85
10	24.8°C / 76.6°F	22.4°C / 72.3°F	05:36 / 18:06	89
11	27.7°C / 81.9°F	23.2°C / 73.8°F	05:36 / 18:05	76
12	28.1°C / 82.6°F	23.6°C / 74.5°F	05:37 / 18:04	79
13	30.7°C / 87.3°F	23.5°C / 74.3°F	05:37 / 18:02	78
14	33.0°C / 91.4°F	25.2°C / 77.4°F	05:38 / 18:01	73
15	33.9°C / 93.0°F	25.7°C / 78.3°F	05:39 / 18:00	70
16	32.1°C / 90.0°F	23.8°C / 74.8°F	05:39 / 17:59	74
17	30.0°C / 86.0°F	24.8°C / 76.6°F	05:40 / 17:57	76
18	25.9°C / 78.6°F	20.6°C / 69.1°F	05:40 / 17:56	68
19	23.9°C / 75.0°F	18.4°C / 65.1°F	05:41 / 17:55	64
20	20.7°C / 69.3°F	16.6°C / 61.9°F	05:41 / 17:54	82
21	23.5°C / 74.3°F	16.5°C / 61.7°F	05:42 / 17:52	63
22	24.8°C / 76.6°F	16.3°C / 61.3°F	05:43 / 17:51	52
23	25.1°C / 77.2°F	14.4°C / 57.9°F	05:43 / 17:50	58
24	24.9°C / 76.8°F	14.8°C / 58.6°F	05:44 / 17:48	56
25	25.8°C / 78.4°F	20.5°C / 68.9°F	05:44 / 17:47	77
26	26.1°C / 79.0°F	21.8°C / 71.2°F	05:45 / 17:46	85
27	26.6°C / 79.9°F	22.6°C / 72.7°F	05:46 / 17:45	81
28	28.5°C / 83.3°F	23.7°C / 74.7°F	05:46 / 17:43	81
29	28.5°C / 83.3°F	22.1°C / 71.8°F	05:47 / 17:42	82
30	22.2°C / 72.0°F	19.6°C / 67.3°F	05:47 / 17:41	80