When to Go

Except for the windy, chilly winter months, Shanghai teems with tourists and business travelers, most notably May through October. July and August are unpleasantly hot and humid as a rule; locals often sleep on cots on the sidewalks to escape the pent-up heat of the day in their small apartments. Shanghai's busiest tourist periods coincide with its mildest weather in the spring and fall. September and October are really the ideal times to visit, but they're also popular times for meetings and conventions, leading to high hotel occupancy and uncompetitive room rates. To avoid the big crowds and still enjoy decent weather, the best time to visit is in late March or late October/early November. Besides the climate, the other major consideration in the timing of your visit should be the domestic Chinese travel season.

Climate

Shanghai, located on the 31st parallel north, has a climate comparable to that of the southeastern coast of the United States, except that Shanghai's summer is hotter. Spring, from mid-March to mid-May, is mild but rainy. Summer, from mid-May to mid-September, is oppressively hot and humid. Winter, from mid-November to mid-March, is damp and chilly, but there is seldom snow and the daytime temperatures are usually above freezing. Autumn (Sept-Oct) is the most comfortable season, being neither too hot nor too rainy, but typhoon-propelled rains can strike in September.

Holidays

In 2008, the Chinese government did away with the weeklong holidays surrounding Labor Day (May 1), and National Day (Oct 1). National holidays now observed in Shanghai with days off include New Year's Day (Jan 1), Spring Festival/Chinese New Year (first day of the lunar calendar: Jan 26, 2009, Feb 14, 2010), Qingming Festival (usually Apr 5 on the Gregorian calendar; Apr 4 during leap years); Labor Day (May 1); Dragon Boat Festival (early June on the lunar calendar); Mid-Autumn Festival (Sept on the lunar calendar); and National Day (Oct 1).

Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year, is the most important holiday. Officially, it is a 5-day national holiday (expanded to 7 days when you include the weekend), meaning that on the first 3 days, banks, offices, and many workplaces are closed. In reality, the effects of this holiday are felt from 2 weeks before the date until 2 weeks after, as Chinese travel to and from their hometowns, which may be very far from their place of work. The 15th day of the New Year is marked by the Lantern Festival celebrations.

The National Day (Oct 1) holidays will also last 7 days. While offices, banks, smaller restaurants, and some sights may be closed for part of each holiday period, you will find in Shanghai that hotels that normally cater to business travelers will offer significant discounts during those times.

Western Holidays in Shanghai -- Christmas has become an increasingly popular holiday in Shanghai, celebrated at hotels and restaurants with large dinner parties. As commercial a holiday as it is in the West, Valentine's Day has caught on with a vengeance, with hotels and international restaurants offering room and dining packages that would have Cupid working overtime. Western New Year's has not caught on to the same extent, although Longhua Temple has become the place to literally ring in the new year. St. Patrick's Day and Halloween are celebrated by locals and expatriates at the cafes, bars, and discos.