Weather in Shanghai in May
May in Shanghai is warm outdoor weather. Days are long enough to be useful. Shade starts to matter at midday.
In China, this is how Shanghai actually wears May, not how a country centroid would. Compared with August and January, May sits in the middle of Shanghai's year.
Pack for Shanghai in May, not for a brochure that was photographed in another season.
- Average temp
- 22°C
18–26°C
- Rainfall
- 84 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 5.5 h
hours per day
What to expect
Daytime
Warm days in Shanghai in May. A hat starts to earn its keep at midday. Evenings are the comfortable part of the clock.
You can walk at more hours than in the fierce months. Still build in a pause when the sun is high. Nights are easy.
Rain
Mixed skies in Shanghai in May. 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 May.
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.
