Shanghai · SpringMonth summary
Shanghai weather in May
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
16°C – 25°C
🌧 Rainy days
37% of days
☀️ Sunshine
9.7h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Spring
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.6/10
📅 📅 Best month
September (7.7/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Shanghai in May?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you want shoulder-season value — fewer crowds, 25°C.
❌ No if: you need maximum sunshine — some overcast days are possible.
Our take: May is a good time to visit Shanghai. September remains slightly better (+0.1 pts).
By trip type
Shanghai in May by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ✅ Good
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ✅ Good
- 💰 💰 Budget : 💸 Peak season
Local context
What to expect in May
🎯 Open terraces and outdoor markets — best season for al fresco dining Spring marks the start of the good season in Shanghai. Temperatures rise (25°C) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. Expect rain on 37% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended. A good balance between weather and crowds, even if September (7.7/10) remains theoretically better.
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All months for Shanghai
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 May, Shanghai averages 25°C, 37% rainy days and 9.7h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.6/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
May vs September (best month)
The best month is September (score 7.7/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +3°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : +11%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +0.3h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Shanghai in May
Is May a good time to visit Shanghai?
May is an excellent time to visit Shanghai (score 7.6/10). With 25°C, 9.7h of sunshine and 37% rain, conditions are very favourable.
What to do in Shanghai in May?
With 25°C max and 9.7h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
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Activities & tours
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