Month guide · Shanghai · China
Shanghai in February
What February is really like in Shanghai: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: lienyuan lee, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
February is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 10°C (50°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 11 hours of daylight. Still chilly; the Spring Festival holiday shuts some small restaurants for a week and makes trains very busy.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 10°C (50°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in February
February is the 11th-warmest month in Shanghai: days average 10°C (50°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 28 days. Compared with January (8°C (46°F)), February is warmer; by March highs climb to around 14°C (57°F).
- Sunrise (15 February)
- About 06:35
- Sunset (15 February)
- About 17:41
- Daylight
- About 11 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, February rates 3 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 February
- Lantern Festival — lantern displays at Yu Garden (15th day of the lunar new year, February or early March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in February
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · North Bund and Hongkou
Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum
Set in the former Ohel Moshe Synagogue in Hongkou, the museum tells the story of about 20,000 Jewish refugees who fled Europe to Shanghai in the 1930s and 1940s, through photographs, documents and personal stories.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Aquarium · Lujiazui (Pudong)
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
Visit on a weekday morning, when the tunnel is less crowded with school groups.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Waterfront · The Bund and People's Square
The Bund
The riverside promenade along Zhongshan Road East is lined with more than 50 early-20th-century buildings, including the domed former HSBC building and the green-roofed Fairmont Peace Hotel.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- After dark
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
Garden · Old City (Yuyuan)
Yu Garden
Arrive at opening on a weekday; by late morning tour groups fill the narrow paths.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 10°C, lows near 3°C and 10 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is February a good time to visit Shanghai?
A quieter month with trade-offs, 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 February a good time to visit Shanghai?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Still chilly; the Spring Festival holiday shuts some small restaurants for a week and makes trains very busy.
+How warm is Shanghai in February?
Average highs are around 10°C (50°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Shanghai in February?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.