Season guide · Shanghai · China
Shanghai in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Balon Greyjoy, CC0
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Quick answer
Blossom in parks, mild temperatures and comfortable walking, with drizzly spells in March and busy national holidays in early April and early May. Expect highs up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F), with about 34 rainy days across March–May. April–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 6°C (43°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 34
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 14°C (57°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 12 | 11.9 h | 3/5 |
| April | 20°C (68°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 11 | 12.9 h | 4/5 |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 11 | 13.7 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 20°C (68°F) against a yearly 21°C (70°F), and 34 of the year's roughly 119 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Spring blossom in Gucun Park and Shanghai Botanical Garden (usually March–April)
- April: Chinese Grand Prix — Formula One at the Shanghai International Circuit (usually spring)
- April: Qingming Festival holiday (early April)
- May: Labour Day holiday — heavy domestic travel (1–5 May)
Good choices for spring
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
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Religious site · Jing'an
Jade Buddha Temple
This working monastery was founded in 1882 to house two jade Buddhas brought from Burma: a seated Buddha nearly two metres high and a smaller reclining Buddha.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Museum · Jing'an
Shanghai Natural History Museum
Book a weekday visit; school-holiday weekends are very busy.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Gallery · Huangpu riverside
Power Station of Art
China's first state-run contemporary art museum occupies a converted power plant on the 2010 Expo site, its 165-metre chimney still standing.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in spring
- Suzhou (About 30 minutes by high-speed train) — Suzhou's UNESCO-listed classical gardens, including the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden, are masterpieces of rockery, water and pavilions.
- Hangzhou and West Lake (About 1 hour by high-speed train) — West Lake's causeways, pagodas and willow-lined shores are a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the nearby hills grow Longjing green tea.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Shanghai?
Yes: April–May are among the best months. Blossom in parks, mild temperatures and comfortable walking, with drizzly spells in March and busy national holidays in early April and early May.
+What is the weather like in Shanghai in spring?
Highs of up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F), with about 34 rainy days over the season.