Travel time: Year-round
Shanghai’s climate is defined by a humid subtropical monsoon system, characterized by four distinct seasons with high levels of moisture performance year-round. Located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the city’s weather is a constant dialogue between maritime influences from the East China Sea and seasonal winds from the Asian interior.
In Shanghai, the thermometer rarely tells the full story. Humidity is the city’s most persistent weather companion, typically hovering above 70% every month.
Spring is a season of rapid transition. March begins cool and misty, with frequent light drizzles. By May, the air warms significantly, though it remains unstable—sunny afternoons can abruptly turn into cool, rainy evenings. This is the city's "budding" phase, where cherry blossoms and magnolias bloom under soft, overcast skies.
Summer is divided into two distinct meteorological phases:
Widely considered the city's most beautiful season, autumn brings "crisp air" and clear, sapphire skies. September can start hot, but by October, the humidity drops and gentle breezes take over. The plane trees lining the former French Concession turn golden, and the lack of rain makes it the most comfortable time for exploring on foot.
Winters are generally grey, damp, and overcast. While heavy snowfall is rare—occurring perhaps only a few days a year—the lack of central heating in many older districts means the cold is felt deeply. Late January and early February are typically the coldest, driven by northwesterly winds from Siberia.
As one of the most densely built environments on Earth, central Puxi and Lujiazui experience a significant Urban Heat Island effect. Central areas can be 3–5°C warmer than the suburban districts like Qingpu or Chongming Island. Locals often seek out the "sponge city" parks or large air-conditioned underground malls to escape the concentrated heat.
From late July through September, Shanghai is at risk for typhoons. While direct landfalls are less frequent than in southern China, the city often experiences the "outer bands," resulting in heavy horizontal rain and gale-force winds. The municipal government operates a highly organized color-coded alert system (Blue, Yellow, Orange, Red) that dictates everything from school closures to the suspension of outdoor construction.
Adaptation is a part of local life. In the summer, you will see a "sea of umbrellas" used as parasols to block the intense UV rays. During the Plum Rains, many residents rely on high-powered dehumidifiers and "smart" drying racks to keep their homes and laundry from succumbing to the moisture. In the winter, because of the lack of centralized municipal heating (standard in Northern China but not the South), locals often favor thermal base layers and heavy indoor slippers to stay warm against the damp interior chill.