Shanghai · WinterMonth summary
Shanghai weather in January
⚠️ Fair
🌡️ Temperature min / max
2°C – 9°C
🌧 Rainy days
26% of days
☀️ Sunshine
7.5h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
4.7/10
📅 📅 Best month
September (7.7/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Shanghai in January?
⚠️ Fair
✅ Yes if: you enjoy winter atmosphere and the lowest prices of the year.
❌ No if: you're looking for sunshine or outdoor activities.
Our take: Shanghai in January: 26% rain, 7.5h of sunshine. Better to wait for September.
By trip type
Shanghai in January by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ⚠️ Possible
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ❌ Not recommended
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ❌ Not recommended
- 💰 💰 Budget : ✅ Low season
Local context
What to expect in January
🎯 Winter dishes and comfort food specialities in local restaurants Winter in Shanghai is cool (9°C during the day). Days are short (7.5h of sunshine) but the city reveals a different side. Expect rain on 26% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended.
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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 January, Shanghai averages 9°C, 26% rainy days and 7.5h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 4.7/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
January vs September (best month)
The best month is September (score 7.7/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +19°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : +22%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +2.5h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Shanghai in January
Is January a good time to visit Shanghai?
January is not recommended for Shanghai (score 4.7/10). With 26% rainy days and 7.5h of sunshine, consider September (7.7/10) instead.
What's the weather like in Shanghai in January?
It's cool with 9°C daytime and 2°C at night. 7.5h of sunshine per day. Pack warm clothes and favour indoor visits.
Accommodation
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Activities & tours
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