Season guide · Shanghai · China
Shanghai in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote . Feel free to use any of my images, but plea, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Plum rains in June, then heat and humidity with highs often above 32°C and occasional typhoons; plan indoor sights for midday. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 37 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 21°C (70°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 37
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 28°C (82°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 14 | 14.2 h | 3/5 |
| July | 32°C (90°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 12 | 14 h | 4/5 |
| August | 32°C (90°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 | 13.3 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 31°C (88°F) against a yearly 21°C (70°F), and 37 of the year's roughly 119 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Shanghai International Film Festival (usually June)
- June: Dragon Boat Festival — zongzi rice dumplings and races (late May or June)
- July: Summer school holidays — busy family attractions (July–August)
Good choices for summer
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Religious site · Jing'an
Jade Buddha Temple
Have a bowl of vegetarian noodles at the temple's restaurant after your visit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Museum · Jing'an
Shanghai Natural History Museum
Housed in a spiralling modern building in Jing'an Sculpture Park, the museum has dinosaur skeletons, a hall of African animals and hands-on displays on evolution and ecosystems.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Gallery · Huangpu riverside
Power Station of Art
Check the programme before you go; the building is worth seeing, but the shows change completely between exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
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
Day trips in summer
- 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.
- Zhujiajiao (About 1 hour by Metro) — A canal town within Shanghai's Qingpu district, with stone bridges, including the five-arched Fangsheng Bridge, waterside teahouses and boat rides.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Shanghai?
It is a trade-off: Plum rains in June, then heat and humidity with highs often above 32°C and occasional typhoons; plan indoor sights for midday. The best months overall are April–May and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Shanghai in summer?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 37 rainy days over the season.