Month guide · Shanghai · China
Shanghai in December
What December is really like in Shanghai: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Stefan Fussan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 11°C (52°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 10.1 hours of daylight. Cold and fairly dry; malls and hotels put up Christmas decorations and the skyline is often clearest.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 11°C (52°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Shanghai: days average 11°C (52°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with November (17°C (63°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 8°C (46°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 06:46
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:54
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold, damp and grey with nights near freezing, few tourists and lower prices outside the Lunar New Year rush.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in April). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christmas and New Year countdowns on the Bund and in Xintiandi
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Waterfront · Xuhui riverside
West Bund and Long Museum
The former industrial riverbank in Xuhui is now a long promenade for cycling and skateboarding, with the Long Museum West Bund, built around an old coal-unloading bridge, and other private galleries along the way.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Active
Park · Former French Concession
Fuxing Park
Go before 9am to see the park at its liveliest, when dancers and tai chi groups fill the paths.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
.jpg){kind=link}
Viewpoint · Lujiazui (Pudong)
Shanghai Tower
China's tallest building rises 632 metres in a twisting glass spiral.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · The Bund and People's Square
Shanghai Museum
Start with the bronze gallery on the ground floor, then take the lift to the ceramics and furniture rooms before the crowds build.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 11°C, lows near 3°C and 6 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Shanghai?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Shanghai in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Shanghai?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cold and fairly dry; malls and hotels put up Christmas decorations and the skyline is often clearest.
+How warm is Shanghai in December?
Average highs are around 11°C (52°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Shanghai in December?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.