Best Time to Visit Shanghai, What to Eat and How Many Days (2026)

Short answer: visit Shanghai in March-May or October-November, and skip the plum rains from mid-June to early July and the typhoon peak from late August to mid-September. Eat xiaolongbao and shengjianbao (9-13 yuan for four at old shops). Plan 3-4 days for a first visit.

I'm a Vietnamese-speaking guide based in Beijing and often travel to Shanghai with guests. Here is what I tell them before the trip, with figures from the Shanghai government's official portal and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Shanghai at a glance

Question	Answer
Best time to visit	March-May and October-November
Avoid	Plum rains mid-June to early July; typhoon peak late August to mid-September
How many days	3-4 days
Must-eat	Xiaolongbao, shengjianbao, scallion oil noodles, hairy crab (autumn)
Souvenirs	White Rabbit candy, mung bean cakes, Shanghai gifts items
Pudong Airport to the city	Maglev, 8 minutes to Longyang Road, 50 yuan

When is the best time to visit Shanghai?

Spring (March-May) is the best season for tourism according to Shanghai's official portal: flowers are out, average temperatures sit around 11-21°C, and drizzle is common. Autumn (September-November) cools from about 25°C to 15°C and is ideal for walking the Bund; I prefer October-November because September is still wet.

Season	Average low to high	Average rain per month	Verdict
Spring (Mar-May)	5.1 to 23.5°C	81-115 mm	Best season, some drizzle
Summer (Jun-Aug)	20.3 to 31.6°C	128-152 mm	Hot and humid, plum rains mid-June to early July
Autumn (Sep-Nov)	8.6 to 27.2°C	51-156 mm	Lovely from October; September is the wettest month
Winter (Dec-Feb)	0.5 to 10.6°C	35-59 mm	Cold and damp, snow is rare

1961-1990 climate averages, Hongqiao station, from the WMO.

• Summer: in 2024, July and August often went above 35°C. The plum rain season from mid-June to early July is not a good time to travel.
• Typhoons: the peak runs from late August to mid-September, with strong winds and heavy rain; pack an umbrella that works for both rain and sun.
• Winter: the coldest stretch is late January to early February, and the humidity makes it feel colder than the thermometer says. Bring gloves, a scarf and a hat, especially for older travellers.

For Chinese public holidays and crowds, see the best time to visit China.

What to eat in Shanghai?

Start with xiaolongbao and shengjianbao; Shanghai cooking is rich and slightly sweet. My list:

• Nanxiang xiaolongbao (南翔小笼包): thin skin, at least 18 pleats, pork filling and hot broth. The making technique joined the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2014. Nanxiang Steam Bun Restaurant, founded in 1900, is in the Yu Garden area at 87 Yuyuan Road, open 7:30 am to 8:30 pm, about 93 yuan per person on average.
• Shengjianbao (生煎): pan-fried pork buns with a crisp base. Locals order by the liang, which means four buns, for about 9-13 yuan at long-established shops such as Da Hu Chun or Lao Zheng He (11 yuan for four).
• Scallion oil noodles (葱油拌面): scallions slowly fried in oil until golden and crisp, tossed with noodles.
• Eight-treasure duck (stuffed with glutinous rice, chestnuts and mushrooms) and crystal shrimp: two classics of Shanghai restaurants.
• Hongshao rou: pork belly braised in a dark, slightly sweet sauce.
• Seasonal dishes: yanduxian, a soup of spring bamboo shoots with fresh and salted pork, in spring; hairy crab in autumn.

How to eat xiaolongbao without burning yourself: lift it gently by the top onto a spoon, bite a small opening to let the steam out, sip the broth first, then eat the rest with black vinegar and ginger. With children and elderly parents, I let the dumplings cool for a minute, because the broth is very hot.

What to buy in Shanghai as souvenirs?

The easiest gifts to carry home are White Rabbit candy, mung bean cakes and items with the official Shanghai gifts label. The first three shops below are all on East Nanjing Road, so one evening covers them:

• White Rabbit milk candy (大白兔): White Rabbit Store, 100 East Nanjing Road, with gift boxes in several flavours.
• Shen Da Cheng mung bean cakes (沈大成): 636 East Nanjing Road; fine and mildly sweet, with classic and pistachio gift boxes.
• Huadian butterfly puff pastry: inside Shanghai First Foodhall, 720 East Nanjing Road, baked on site all day.
• Shanghai gifts (上海礼物): 635 products approved by the Shanghai Commercial Association and the Shanghai Tourism Industry Association, from fridge magnets with Wu Guanzhong paintings to embroidery, tea sets and delicacies from century-old brands. Sold at the Oriental Pearl Tower, the East Building of the Shanghai Museum and the First Food Store.
• A tailored qipao or crafts from Tianzifang, if you have extra time.

What to see in Shanghai

• The Bund: European-style buildings facing the Pudong skyline. Go twice, by day and after the lights come on.
• Huangpu River ferry: 2 yuan a ride; East Jinling Road pier is the most convenient for visitors and the cheapest way to see both banks.
• Pudong: the Oriental Pearl Tower and the skyscrapers.
• Yu Garden: a classical Jiangnan garden in the old town, next to Nanxiang Steam Bun Restaurant.
• The former French Concession: plane-tree streets and cafés; the leaves turn yellow in November.
• Zhujiajiao: a canal town with stone bridges, about an hour from the centre.

How many days in Shanghai is enough?

3-4 days suit a first visit:

1. Day 1: the Bund in the morning, the ferry to Pudong, back to the Bund for the evening lights.
2. Day 2: Yu Garden and Nanxiang xiaolongbao, then Nanjing Road and souvenir shopping.
3. Day 3: the former French Concession and Tianzifang.
4. Day 4 (optional): Zhujiajiao water town.

With elderly parents, I plan the full four days with an afternoon break at the hotel, because every stop involves a lot of walking. To combine Shanghai with Beijing, Hangzhou and Suzhou, see the 7-day itinerary and the Hangzhou guide.

Getting from Pudong Airport and around Shanghai

• From Pudong Airport: the Maglev covers 30 km to Longyang Road station in eight minutes at up to 300 km/h; 50 yuan one way, 80 yuan return. Longyang Road is not the centre, so continue by metro or taxi to your hotel.
• Metro: more than 900 km across 21 lines; fares start at 3 yuan for the first 6 km. Buy single tickets at the machines (Visa and Mastercard accepted), use the Metro Daduhui app, or tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, JCB or American Express card at the gates.
• Taxi: 14 yuan flag fall, then 2.7 yuan per km after 3 km; 30% surcharge from 11 pm to 5 am.
• Huangpu ferry: 2 yuan, transport and sightseeing in one.

With big suitcases or older travellers, I usually take a taxi or private car from the airport rather than changing at Longyang Road. For payments and connectivity, read Alipay and WeChat Pay and SIM, eSIM and VPN; for entry rules, see China visa and 240-hour visa-free transit.

Do you need a guide in Shanghai?

Shanghai is one of the easiest Chinese cities to explore on your own: the metro is signposted in English and takes foreign cards. A guide helps most when you travel with elderly parents or young children, or need an interpreter for shopping or business meetings.

I'm a private guide based in Beijing and speak Vietnamese, English and Mandarin. I travel with groups of 1-8 guests across China and can plan the whole trip, with airport pickup, a private driver, a Chinese SIM and an interpreter for meetings, shopping or sourcing. I quote per trip: see my services or request a quote.

Sources

• Shanghai's four seasons: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• Monthly climate averages (1961-1990): WMO
• Shanghai specialty dishes: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• Xiaolongbao and Nanxiang Steam Bun Restaurant: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• Shengjianbao and prices: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• Hairy crab season: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• White Rabbit, mung bean cakes, butterfly pastry: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• Shanghai gifts: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• Metro, taxi, ferry and Maglev (updated 30 June 2026): english.shanghai.gov.cn