Shanghai · WinterMonth summary
Shanghai weather in December
⚠️ Fair
🌡️ Temperature min / max
4°C – 11°C
🌧 Rainy days
20% of days
☀️ Sunshine
8.7h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
6.1/10
📅 📅 Best month
September (7.7/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Shanghai in December?
⚠️ Fair
✅ Yes if: you prefer museums and gastronomy — it's cool at 11°C.
❌ No if: you're looking for beach weather — it's not the right season.
Our take: Not the best window: 20% rain risk and 8.7h of sunshine. September is much safer.
By trip type
Shanghai in December by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ⚠️ Possible
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ⚠️ Possible
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ❌ Not recommended
- 💰 💰 Budget : ✅ Low season
Local context
What to expect in December
🎯 Winter dishes and comfort food specialities in local restaurants In December, Shanghai sees 11°C during the day with 8.7h of sunshine per day. Rain risk remains low (20% of days), leaving good room for outdoor activities. Not the best window, but acceptable if dates are constrained. September (7.7/10) is significantly better if possible.
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Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌫️ January | 2°C | 9°C | 26% | 2.1 | 7.5h | 4.7/10 |
| 🌫️ February | 3°C | 10°C | 31% | 2.2 | 7.9h | 4.8/10 |
| ⛅ March | 7°C | 15°C | 33% | 2.6 | 8.9h | 6.7/10 |
| 🌤️ April | 12°C | 20°C | 32% | 3.4 | 9.6h | 7.3/10 |
| 🌤️ May | 16°C | 25°C | 37% | 4.1 | 9.7h | 7.6/10 |
| 🌦️ June | 21°C | 28°C | 57% | 8.1 | 7.7h | 7.3/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 26°C | 32°C | 59% | 7.1 | 11.0h | 7.1/10 |
| 🌤️ August | 26°C | 32°C | 48% | 4.0 | 12.0h | 7.3/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 22°C | 28°C | 48% | 6.1 | 10.0h | 7.7/10 |
| 🌤️ October | 16°C | 22°C | 25% | 2.5 | 8.6h | 7.6/10 |
| 🌤️ November | 10°C | 18°C | 28% | 2.3 | 8.0h | 7.1/10 |
| 🌫️ December | 4°C | 11°C | 20% | 1.3 | 8.7h | 6.1/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In December, Shanghai averages 11°C, 20% rainy days and 8.7h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 6.1/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
December vs September (best month)
The best month is September (score 7.7/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +17°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : +28%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +1.3h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Shanghai in December
Is December a good time to visit Shanghai?
December is an acceptable time for Shanghai (score 6.1/10). Conditions are decent but not optimal — consider September (7.7/10) if possible.
What's the weather like in Shanghai in December?
It's cool with 11°C daytime and 4°C at night. 8.7h of sunshine per day. Pack warm clothes and favour indoor visits.
Accommodation
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