Best Time to Visit Shanghai

March to May and October to November are the best times to visit Shanghai, since they boast cozy and favorable weather, vibrant and colorful scenery, and not very crowded attractions overall.

View of the Bund

 Shanghai gets rid of the damp and chilly winter and ushers in spring during this time. Temperatures rise to around 10-25°C (50-75°F), making for a warm and comfortable climate. You can enjoy outdoor sightseeing without bundling up in heavy layers or worrying about intense heat. Moreover, rain won’t pose much of a threat to your trip, as this season typically features light showers and enjoys plenty of sunshine. Furthermore, the city transforms into a veritable world of flowers, with cherry blossoms, tulips, magnolias, rapeseed flowers, and many other blooms filling the streets. 

During these months, as long as you avoid the Qingming Holiday in early April and May Day holiday in early May, you can experience Shanghai at its most romantic with a relatively quiet atmosphere.

Zhujiajiao Water Town in Spring

 At this time of year, Shanghai has completely shed the stifling heat of summer, with temperatures hovering between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius (59-72 degrees Fahrenheit) - an extremely comfortable range. Besides, both the rainy season and typhoon season have ended, and this period has minimal rainfall, dry air, and excellent visibility, making it ideal for all kinds of outdoor activities. Moreover, Shanghai offers a unique natural spectacle during this season: autumn foliage. With these golden leaves, attractions like the Yu Garden and Zhujiajiao Water Town become even more appealing.

Apart from the National Day holiday in early October, visitor numbers in Shanghai remain not very high during the rest of this period.

Yu Garden in Early October

 

These three winter months mark the slack tourism season of Shanghai. The biggest advantage of the off-season is, of course, that it offers a quieter and more relaxed experience thanks to fewer tourists. Specifically, visiting either the Bund or the Yu Garden during this time, you can enjoy your trip at a leisurely pace and don’t need to make any effort to dodge crowds while taking photos. Additionally, if you choose to visit Shanghai during these months, your overall travel costs will be significantly lower: hotel rates will be discounted, airfares will be cheaper, and attractions like the Yu Garden will offer off-season pricing.

The New Year period in late December, as well as the Chinese New Year Festival period in January or February, are not part of the off-season; on the contrary, these times are very crowded. If you are looking for a quiet trip, be sure to avoid these two periods. 

Note: This period is considered the slack season because the weather in Shanghai is quite cold. Therefore, be sure to pack plenty of warm clothing for your trip and do not stay outdoors too late in chilly evenings.

Quiet Disneyland Park in Winter

Yuyuan Bazaar with Fewer Tourists

 

First, this is the hot summer, with high temperature above 30°C (86°F) nearly every day, and usually around 35°C (95°F). Combined with high humidity, the weather feels uncomfortably hot. It’s no exaggeration to say that within half an hour of staying outside, you will feel sticky all over.

Second, Shanghai experiences frequent rain during this period. Mid-June through early July marks the city’s plum rainy season, when persistent drizzles and sudden downpours fall from time to time. Your itinerary will be significantly disturbed: outdoor sightseeing will be inconvenient, visibility will be low and the sky will almost always be overcast, and some shows and parades at Disneyland Park may be canceled. From late July to mid-September, Shanghai is likely to be affected by typhoons, which force you to stay indoors.

Furthermore, it’s important to note that Shanghai is packed with tourists in July and August, as this period coincides with China’s summer vacation. Inevitably, travel expenses will also be significantly higher than usual.

Crowded Nanjing Road Even in Morning

 

Though early June also belongs to summer, the climate of Shanghai is not very hot. Besides, the city has not entered the rainy season yet. In late September, the weather gradually cools down, and the typhoon season ends. So, these two periods both feature not bad weather conditions.

 The busiest travel periods you are highly recommended to avoid are the three long holidays - the Chinese New Year holiday in January or February, the May Day holiday from May 1 to 5, and the Chinese National Day holiday from October 1 to 7. How crowded will Shanghai be at these times? At popular attractions like the Bund, Nanjing Road, and the Yu Garden, you’ll practically be pushed along by the crowd; meanwhile, you’ll have to wait in line for two to three hours for the most popular items at Disneyland Park. In addition, hotel rates typically rise to two or three times their usual price.

New Year’s Day, Qingming Festival in early April, Dragon Boat Festival around mid-June, and Mid-Autumn Day in mid to late September are also full of visitors, though not as many as the above three holidays. 
  
Read more:
Where to Stay in Shanghai: Best Areas
8 Best Water Towns near Shanghai
Weekend Trips from Shanghai

Shanghai Weather by Month