Best time to visit Shanghai: month-by-month weather (2026)
The highest-scoring months in Shanghai are May, Oct and Nov.
Best months
May, Oct and Nov
Peak season
May, Oct and Nov
Off season
Jan, Feb and Jul
Monthly Temperatures (°C)
Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Month-by-Month Guide
Temperature, rainfall and sunshine are measured. The visit score below is derived from those three (design spec §5.3)estimate.
Jan
Temp: 1.4°C – 10.4°C
Rain: 43mm
Sunshine: 7.3h/day
Visit score: 3.9/10
Feb
Temp: 2.9°C – 10.2°C
Rain: 80mm
Sunshine: 5.3h/day
Visit score: 2.5/10
Mar
Temp: 7.3°C – 16.7°C
Rain: 65mm
Sunshine: 7h/day
Visit score: 5.3/10
Apr
Temp: 12.6°C – 22.2°C
Rain: 88mm
Sunshine: 7.4h/day
Visit score: 6.5/10
May
BestTemp: 16.7°C – 25.7°C
Rain: 107mm
Sunshine: 8.1h/day
Visit score: 8.1/10
Jun
Temp: 21.3°C – 28.4°C
Rain: 316mm
Sunshine: 5.8h/day
Visit score: 6.7/10
Jul
Temp: 26.4°C – 32.8°C
Rain: 251mm
Sunshine: 9.1h/day
Visit score: 3.8/10
Aug
Temp: 26.5°C – 34°C
Rain: 109mm
Sunshine: 11h/day
Visit score: 4.7/10
Sep
Temp: 24°C – 30.5°C
Rain: 163mm
Sunshine: 8.3h/day
Visit score: 5.8/10
Oct
BestTemp: 17.4°C – 24.4°C
Rain: 67mm
Sunshine: 7.1h/day
Visit score: 8.8/10
Nov
BestTemp: 10.7°C – 18.2°C
Rain: 68mm
Sunshine: 7.2h/day
Visit score: 7.3/10
Dec
Temp: 4.2°C – 12°C
Rain: 20mm
Sunshine: 7.4h/day
Visit score: 6.3/10
When to go, and when not to
May, October, and November stand out as the best months to visit, based on the highest visit scores of the year. October combines warm highs around 24.4C with comparatively light rainfall of 67mm, while May brings highs of 25.7C and some of the most sunshine hours per day of any month, at 8.1 hours.
These same three months make up the peak season, so travelers should expect more visitors and higher demand for lodging during that stretch. The trade-off for cooler, quieter conditions is found in the off season: January and February are cold, with highs only around 10C, while July is both hot, reaching 32.8C, and wet, with 251mm of rain, and June is the wettest month overall at 316mm.
Season Guide
Spring
March – May
Mild temperatures and blooming gardens. A great time for sightseeing with fewer crowds than summer.
Packing tips
- · Light layers
- · Rain jacket
- · Comfortable walking shoes
Summer
June – August
Warmest months with the longest days. Peak tourist season in most destinations.
Packing tips
- · Sunscreen
- · Hat
- · Light clothing
- · Refillable water bottle
Autumn
September – November
Cooling temperatures and autumn foliage. Shoulder season with good deals on accommodations.
Packing tips
- · Medium layers
- · Sweater
- · Waterproof jacket
Winter
December – February
Coldest months with shorter days. Holiday markets and winter activities in many cities.
Packing tips
- · Warm coat
- · Scarf and gloves
- · Thermal layers
- · Waterproof boots
Keep reading
Sources
- GeoNames city database — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 14, 2026
- Open-Meteo climate archive — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 21, 2026
AI-written interpretation reviewed against the data above — claude-sonnet-5, generated September 21, 2026. Every number on this page comes from a dataset named here; the formulas are public.