Weather in Shanghai in January
January in Shanghai is a coat month. Treat it as cities, food and short walks, not as a terrace holiday.
In China, this is how Shanghai actually wears January, not how a country centroid would. January is the cold side of the year in Shanghai. Pack for that, not for a leftover summer photo.
- Average temp
- 6°C
3–9°C
- Rainfall
- 69 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 3.6 h
hours per day
What to expect
Daytime
You want a proper coat in Shanghai in January, not a festival jacket. Wind makes the same afternoon feel sharper than the map suggests.
Outdoor time is the middle of the day. Finish plans before the light goes. Evenings are for indoors.
Rain
Mixed skies in Shanghai in January. Dry days and wet days share the month. Outdoor plans need a backup, not a cancellation policy.
Pack a shell you will actually carry. The monthly table is the place for totals. This is the feel: usable, interrupted.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
Rain jacket
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in Shanghai
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Shanghai
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Shanghai
TemperatureRainfall
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FAQs about Shanghai
Climate averages for Shanghai, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Shanghai is between April and June, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
July is the hottest month, with an average around 30°C.
August is the wettest month, with about 216 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
