Season guide · Shanghai · China
Shanghai in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Josh Grenier, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Cold, damp and grey with nights near freezing, few tourists and lower prices outside the Lunar New Year rush. Expect highs up to 11°C (52°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 26 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 1°C (34°F) to 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 26
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C (46°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 10 | 10.3 h | 3/5 |
| February | 10°C (50°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 10 | 11 h | 3/5 |
| December | 11°C (52°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 6 | 10.1 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 10°C (50°F) against a yearly 21°C (70°F), and 26 of the year's roughly 119 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Lunar New Year — lanterns at Yu Garden and temple crowds (late January or February)
- February: Lantern Festival — lantern displays at Yu Garden (15th day of the lunar new year, February or early March)
- December: Christmas and New Year countdowns on the Bund and in Xintiandi
Good choices for winter
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
.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
_Mahavira_Hall,_Jade_Buddha_Temple,_Shanghai_-_img_04.jpg){kind=link}
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
_-_07.jpg){kind=link}
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
Day trips in winter
- Wuzhen (About 2 hours by bus or train and taxi) — Wuzhen is a carefully restored water town split into the residential East Scenic Zone and the more polished West Scenic Zone, which is beautiful when lit up at night.
- Nanjing (About 1.5–2 hours by high-speed train) — The former capital has the Ming city wall, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum on Purple Mountain, the Confucius Temple area on the Qinhuai River and the Nanjing Memorial Hall.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Shanghai?
It is a trade-off: Cold, damp and grey with nights near freezing, few tourists and lower prices outside the Lunar New Year rush. The best months overall are April–May and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Shanghai in winter?
Highs of up to 11°C (52°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 26 rainy days over the season.