Shanghai

Shanghai is known for the early 20th-century buildings of the Bund, the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River, and old shikumen lanes.

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Shanghai is a municipality on China's east coast, at the Yangtze River estuary, and the country's largest city by urban population. The Huangpu River splits it in two. Puxi, on the west bank, holds the historic center, while Pudong, on the east bank, holds the Lujiazui financial district and its skyline of skyscrapers, including the Shanghai Tower and Jin Mao Tower. The Bund is a riverfront of early 20th-century buildings in neoclassical and Art Deco styles, and Yu Garden, a Jiangnan-style garden, sits in the Old City.

The metro is the longest urban rail network in the world, and one Shanghai Public Transport Card works on metro, buses, ferries and taxis. The Maglev train runs from Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road station at up to 430 km/h. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons to visit, since summer is hot and humid and typhoons can affect the city. Winters are cool and damp.

Shanghai in five

Ride the maglev from PudongIt reaches Longyang Road in about 8 minutes, where you change to the metro.
Check your stationMost fast trains leave from Hongqiao, next to the domestic airport, but some use Shanghai or Shanghai South. It is printed on your ticket.
Walk the Bund at duskThe river and the Pudong towers light up after sunset. Go on a weekday to avoid the crush.
Day-trip to SuzhouGardens and canals, about 30 minutes by fast train. Go midweek.Shanghai to Suzhou
Book the Beijing train on 12306The fastest trains reach Beijing in about 4.5 hours. Tickets are tied to your passport, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.Beijing

Things to do in Shanghai

See all attractions in Shanghai

Sight · ShanghaiGuangqi Park

Sight · ShanghaiPower Station of Art

Temple · ShanghaiJade Buddha TempleChoose a weekday if you want to avoid the heavier weekend and holiday crowds.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to ShanghaiPut the places you like in Shanghai on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airports: Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA)
Getting around: Metro; QR codes or a transport card
Best base: Jing'an or the former French Concession
Day trips: Suzhou, about 30 min by fast train

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cool, damp
FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Cool, damp
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Mild, spring
AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Spring, clear
MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Warm, clear
JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Plum rains
JulyRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low26°Hot, humid
AugustRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low27°Typhoon risk
SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Typhoon risk
OctoberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Clear, mild
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Cool, dry
DecemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cold, grey

Average daily high and low in Shanghai, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Shanghai

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 15°
Humidity: 66%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 18%

Shanghai

08:04 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+8

Today19°13°18%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 18%.
Wed19°16°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 19°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu20°15°48%Thursday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 48%.
Fri21°14°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat18°14°61%Saturday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 61%.
Sun17°14°85%Sunday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 85%.
Mon15°11°65%Monday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 65%.

Updated 06:15 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY

Amount

Converted to

CNY · Chinese Yuan

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Day trips from Shanghai, the full guide

Before you go to Shanghai

Shanghai and water-town toursSuzhou and Zhujiajiao with a guideCompare tours

Stays in Jing'an and the ConcessionMetro-linked central basesCheck availability

eSIM for ShanghaiPay and ride metro apps from arrivalRead the guide

Travel insurance for ShanghaiCover for typhoon-season disruptionsRead the guide

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Rules for Shanghai, checked

Check whether you need a visa or qualify for visa-free entry on the National Immigration Administration website before you fly.Source
Hotels register foreign guests with their passport, so carry it when you check in and out.
Declare cash, goods and food on your arrival form and check the General Administration of Customs website for limits.Source
Sort waste into residual, kitchen, recyclable and hazardous categories, as the city's classification system requires.
Driving is hard for visitors: new private car plates are sold by monthly auction, and honking is restricted in the city center.

Plan around Shanghai

All of China

Visa-free entry, payments, trains and cities

Read the guide Beijing

The capital, 4.5 hours by fast train

Read the guide China visa-free entry

The 30-day list and the 240-hour transit

Read the guide Money and costs in China

Alipay, WeChat Pay and foreign cards

Read the guide Suzhou

Classical gardens, a short fast-train ride

Read the guide Hangzhou

West Lake and tea hills by fast train

Read the guide Nanjing

Ming wall and a quieter second city

Read the guide

Shanghai FAQ

How many days do you need in Shanghai?

Three days cover the Bund, the old lanes, a museum and one day trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou. Two days is tight but works if you skip the day trip.

How do I get from Pudong airport to the city?

The maglev reaches Longyang Road in about 8 minutes, where you change to the metro. Taxis and the metro run directly if you prefer not to change.

When is the best time to visit Shanghai?

April to May and October to November, when it is mild and clear. Summers are hot and humid, with typhoon risk in late summer, and winter is damp and cold.

Suzhou or Hangzhou as a day trip from Shanghai?

Suzhou for gardens and canals, about 30 minutes away. Hangzhou for West Lake and tea hills, about an hour away and better with a long day.

Where should I stay in Shanghai?

Jing'an or the former French Concession for a first visit, with metro access and cafés. The Bund puts you next to the river and the main sights.