Monthly climate guide
Shanghai weather in January
January in Shanghai is typically cool, with average daytime highs around 9°C (47°F) and night-time lows near 1°C (34°F). The month usually brings about 65 mm of rain (some rain) and is often cloudy. Daytime highs are 2°C cooler than December and about the same as February.
What stands out in January
- Seasonally, January counts as mid-winter in Shanghai.
- Just 550 km apart, but Shanghai runs about 5°C warmer than Qingdao this month.
- Rain is well below Shanghai's usual level (around 45% less).
January is typically Shanghai's coolest month.
Avg high
9°C
47°F
Avg low
1°C
34°F
Rainfall
65 mm
some rain
Humidity
79%
relative
Sky
65%
cloud · often cloudy
Shanghai weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C / 47°F | 1°C / 34°F | 65 mm | 79% | 65% |
| February | 10°C / 50°F | 2°C / 36°F | 77 mm | 80% | 66% |
| March | 15°C / 58°F | 6°C / 42°F | 90 mm | 79% | 64% |
| April | 21°C / 69°F | 11°C / 52°F | 97 mm | 77% | 63% |
| May | 26°C / 78°F | 17°C / 62°F | 114 mm | 77% | 71% |
| June | 28°C / 82°F | 21°C / 70°F | 242 mm | 82% | 82% |
| July | 32°C / 89°F | 26°C / 78°F | 154 mm | 82% | 71% |
| August | 32°C / 89°F | 26°C / 79°F | 186 mm | 80% | 62% |
| September | 28°C / 82°F | 21°C / 71°F | 166 mm | 78% | 64% |
| October | 23°C / 74°F | 16°C / 60°F | 95 mm | 77% | 58% |
| November | 18°C / 64°F | 10°C / 51°F | 78 mm | 79% | 59% |
| December | 11°C / 51°F | 3°C / 38°F | 56 mm | 77% | 55% |
What to pack for January
- A proper insulated winter coat
- A hat, scarf and gloves
- A small travel umbrella, just in case
Is January a good time to visit Shanghai?
Compare the months in the chart above to find your ideal window.
Best time to visit Shanghai →Other China cities in January
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Shanghai weather in January. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/china/shanghai/january
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/china/shanghai/january">Shanghai weather in January</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/china/shanghai" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Shanghai weather in January"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/china/shanghai/january">Shanghai weather in January</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Shanghai in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Shanghai?
January is cool in Shanghai, with highs around 9°C. Better for museums and city walks than the beach, and usually quieter.
How warm is Shanghai in January?
Average highs are about 9°C (47°F) and average lows about 1°C (34°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Shanghai in January?
Shanghai typically gets around 65 mm of rain in January — some rain.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Shanghai (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.