Month guide · Shanghai · China
Shanghai in March
What March is really like in Shanghai: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Legolas1024, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
March is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 11.9 hours of daylight. Changeable spring weather with drizzle, but magnolias and plum blossom appear in parks and gardens.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 11.9 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in March
March is the 9th-warmest month in Shanghai: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with February (10°C (50°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 06:05
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:02
- Daylight
- About 11.9 hours
Spring (March–May). Blossom in parks, mild temperatures and comfortable walking, with drizzly spells in March and busy national holidays in early April and early May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March 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 March
- Spring blossom in Gucun Park and Shanghai Botanical Garden (usually March–April)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Street · The Bund and People's Square
Nanjing Road
Walk it after dark from People's Square towards the river so you finish with the lit-up Bund.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Iconic
Experience · The Bund and People's Square
Huangpu River cruise
Sightseeing boats leave from piers on the Bund and in Lujiazui for loops of about 40–60 minutes past the Bund's heritage façades and the Pudong towers.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- Iconic
Theme park · Pudong
Shanghai Disneyland
Weekdays outside Chinese school holidays have far shorter queues; download the official app to see waiting times.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Iconic
- After dark
Neighbourhood · Former French Concession
Former French Concession walk
A walk from the wedge-shaped Wukang Mansion along Wukang Road, Anfu Road and Fuxing Road passes 1920s and 1930s villas, apartment blocks and lane houses under plane trees, many marked with heritage plaques.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Couples
- Food
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 14°C, lows near 6°C and 12 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March 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 March a good time to visit Shanghai?
It is a shoulder-season month. Changeable spring weather with drizzle, but magnolias and plum blossom appear in parks and gardens.
+How warm is Shanghai in March?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Shanghai in March?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.