Shanghai weather in January
Shanghai in January averages 6°C (42°F), 69 mm of rain and 3.6 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Shanghai, January is the coldest, the fifth driest and the dullest.
- Average temp
- 6°C (42°F)
3–9°C · 37–47°F
- Rainfall
- 69 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 3.6 h
hours per day
What is Shanghai like in January?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Shanghai in January?
A light rain jacket
About 69 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 3°C (37°F).
January compared with December and February
January in Shanghai is 2.9°C cooler than December and 26 mm wetter than it, which averages 8°C (47°F).
January in Shanghai is 1.5°C cooler than February and about as wet as it, which averages 7°C (45°F).
Daylight in Shanghai in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 10 hours 20 minutes in Shanghai, rising about 06:53 and setting about 17:13 local time.
January ends 31 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 3 hours 50 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Shanghai
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Shanghai
What to read before you book.
Shanghai weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C / 42°F | 69 mm |
| February | 7°C / 45°F | 65 mm |
| March | 11°C / 52°F | 88 mm |
| April | 16°C / 62°F | 72 mm |
| May | 22°C / 71°F | 84 mm |
| June | 25°C / 77°F | 192 mm |
| July | 30°C / 85°F | 151 mm |
| August | 29°C / 85°F | 216 mm |
| September | 25°C / 77°F | 97 mm |
| October | 20°C / 68°F | 64 mm |
| November | 14°C / 58°F | 53 mm |
| December | 8°C / 47°F | 43 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Shanghai in January
January climate averages for Shanghai, 1991–2020.
Shanghai averages 6°C (42°F) in January, ranging from about 3°C (37°F) at night to 9°C (47°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 69 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. January averages 6°C (42°F) against 7°C (45°F) in February — 1.5°C cooler.
January is 2.9°C cooler than December, and 26 mm wetter.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is April to June; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 3.6 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average, so daylight is short on useful sun.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 10 hours 20 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 14 hours 10 minutes in June and 10 hours 8 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 06:53 and sunset about 17:13 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 31 minutes longer than it starts.
