Shanghai in January
Highs around 9°C, lows 2°C, 74mm of rain; rooms at the year's low.
Cheap and not one of the wettest months: a good time to go.
Best time to visit / Shanghai
When is it cheapest to visit Shanghai?
See how room prices move month by month, and know the cheapest window and the peak season to avoid before you book.
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Cheapest Jan, Jun, DecPeak May, Oct
Read from this city's own twelve months. The table below adds the temperature and rainfall for each one.
Shanghai is cheapest to visit in January, June, December.
Peak season is May, October, when rooms cost the most.
The month to pick is June. Rooms sit at this city's yearly low, and at an average high of 27°C and low of 21°C with 182mm of rain it asks the least of you of any of its cheap months.
The wettest month in Shanghai is August, at 213mm. It is not one of the cheap months, so dodging the rain and saving money are two separate decisions here.
Shanghai month by month: weather and room prices
One row per month. The price column is relative to this city's own year, and the temperature and rainfall are thirty-year normals.
| Month | Rooms | Temp | Rain | What is on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cheap | 9°C / 2°C | 74mm | Quiet shoulder |
| February | Mid | 10°C / 3°C | 59mm | Lunar New Year |
| March | Mid | 14°C / 6°C | 94mm | Nothing in particular |
| April | Mid | 20°C / 11°C | 75mm | Cherry blossom |
| May | Peak | 24°C / 16°C | 85mm | Golden Week |
| June | Cheap | 27°C / 21°C | 182mm | Rainy season |
| July | Mid | 32°C / 25°C | 146mm | Hottest month |
| August | Mid | 32°C / 25°C | 213mm | Hottest month, Typhoon season |
| September | Mid | 28°C / 21°C | 88mm | Nothing in particular |
| Octobernow | Peak | 23°C / 16°C | 53mm | National holiday |
| November | Mid | 17°C / 10°C | 53mm | Nothing in particular |
| December | Cheap | 11°C / 4°C | 43mm | Quiet shoulder |
Temperature and rainfall are published 1991-2020 monthly normals from national meteorological agencies. The price level is Tripdify's own per-city read of peak seasons and holidays; what you actually pay varies by property and day of the week.
Shanghai month by month
Shanghai in February
Highs around 10°C, lows 3°C, 59mm of rain; rooms mid-priced. On this month: Lunar New Year.
Shanghai in March
Highs around 14°C, lows 6°C, 94mm of rain; rooms mid-priced.
Shanghai in April
Highs around 20°C, lows 11°C, 75mm of rain; rooms mid-priced. On this month: Cherry blossom.
Shanghai in May
Highs around 24°C, lows 16°C, 85mm of rain; rooms at the year's high. On this month: Golden Week.
Peak prices: book early if your dates are fixed.
Shanghai in June
Highs around 27°C, lows 21°C, 182mm of rain; rooms at the year's low. One of the three wettest months. On this month: Rainy season.
Cheap, but wet: keep plans flexible and pack for rain.
Shanghai in July
Highs around 32°C, lows 25°C, 146mm of rain; rooms mid-priced. One of the three wettest months. On this month: Hottest month.
Shanghai in August
Highs around 32°C, lows 25°C, 213mm of rain; rooms mid-priced. One of the three wettest months. On this month: Hottest month, Typhoon season.
Shanghai in September
Highs around 28°C, lows 21°C, 88mm of rain; rooms mid-priced.
Shanghai in October
Highs around 23°C, lows 16°C, 53mm of rain; rooms at the year's high. One of the three driest months. On this month: National holiday.
Peak prices: book early if your dates are fixed.
Shanghai in November
Highs around 17°C, lows 10°C, 53mm of rain; rooms mid-priced. One of the three driest months.
Shanghai in December
Highs around 11°C, lows 4°C, 43mm of rain; rooms at the year's low. One of the three driest months.
Cheap and not one of the wettest months: a good time to go.
Shanghai seasons and room prices
Shanghai is most pleasant in spring from March to May and autumn from September to November, and hotel prices rise with the weather. Mid June to early July is the plum rain season, July and August are hot and humid, and typhoons can brush the city in August and September. The dearest weeks are the National Day golden week from October 1 and the Labour Day holiday in early May, when domestic travellers fill the city, plus the China International Import Expo in early November, which floods the business hotels. Over Chinese New Year the city empties and rooms get cheap, but many restaurants and shops close for days. Winter outside that holiday is the low point.
Shanghai local costs and payment
The currency is the yuan, and payment runs almost entirely on Alipay and WeChat Pay, so the phone comes before the card. Both apps accept foreign cards, and setting one up before you fly covers taxis, convenience stores and most restaurants. Hotels, department stores and larger restaurants take international cards directly, while small shops may accept only the apps, and since cash remains legal tender a small reserve is sensible. Hotel rates in China are usually displayed with tax and service included, but sites differ, so compare on the total. Pay in yuan and decline home currency conversion.
Take Shanghai further into a stay plan
Once you have picked a cheap time to go, work out which base gives you the shortest travel.
When to visit Shanghai: common questions
When is it cheapest?
Shanghai is cheapest in the low season, January, June, December.
When is peak season?
May, October is peak season, when room prices are highest.
Which months should I avoid?
To spend the least, avoid the peak months of May, October, when prices climb.
Which month in Shanghai is both cheap and pleasant?
The month to pick is June. Rooms sit at this city's yearly low, and at an average high of 27°C and low of 21°C with 182mm of rain it asks the least of you of any of its cheap months.
Which month is wettest in Shanghai?
The wettest month in Shanghai is August, at 213mm. It is not one of the cheap months, so dodging the rain and saving money are two separate decisions here.