China
Shanghai in December
🧥 WinterCool and some showers. Watch for hazy air.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings · N95 mask for hazy days
Why December scores 6.9What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.9
- !Cool (11°C highs / 5°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 3.3°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~50 mm rain)
- Air quality2.6
- !Unhealthy (PM2.5 ~74 µg/m³) — score capped at 6.9
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 6.9 Good | 8.4 Very good |
| Season | 🧥 Winter | 🌷 Spring |
| High / low | 11° / 5° | 26° / 18° |
| Rain | 50 mm | 91 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 3° | dew pt 16° |
| PM2.5 | 74 µg/m³ | 38 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Shanghai weather-station normals. Rainfall: Shanghai weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
No national public holidays in China this month.
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Shanghai
- Snowy daysTypical datesSnow likely Jan–Feb (most in Jan: ~2 days)
Average number of days with snowfall at Shanghai.
Source: Shanghai weather-station normals (national weather service, via Wikipedia climate table)
Explore ShanghaiEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyChina's largest city on the Huangpu River, known for the colonial-era Bund, the Pudong skyline, shikumen lane houses and a strong food culture.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Chinese New YearDate variesLunar calendar — late January to mid-February, date moves each year
The most important family holiday, with temple visits and decorations.
Why go: Transport and hotels are very busy; some small businesses close.
Where: Citywide
Lantern FestivalDate varies15th day of the first lunar month — February or early March
Lantern displays mark the end of New Year celebrations.
Why go: Yu Garden is extremely crowded.
Where: Yu Garden and temples
Shanghai International Film FestivalDate variesUsually June
One of Asia's major film festivals.
Why go: Tickets sell quickly.
Where: Cinemas across the city
The Bund
A riverfront promenade lined with early 20th-century banks and trading houses facing the Pudong skyline.
💡 The skyline is lit up in the evening.
Lujiazui
The Pudong financial district with the Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower.
Yu Garden
A classical Chinese garden next to the busy Old City bazaar.
Former French Concession
Leafy streets with old villas, lane houses and cafes.
Shanghai Museum
A major museum of ancient Chinese bronzes, ceramics and painting.
Zhujiajiao
A canal town with stone bridges on the city's western outskirts.
Xiaolongbao
Thin-skinned dumplings filled with pork and hot soup.
💡 Dumpling shops
Shengjian bao
Pan-fried pork buns with crispy bottoms.
💡 Snack shops, often for breakfast
Hongshao rou
Pork belly braised in soy sauce and sugar.
💡 Shanghainese restaurants
Hairy crab
Freshwater mitten crab, a seasonal delicacy.
💡 Restaurants in autumn, roughly October to November
Scallion oil noodles
Plain noodles tossed in fried scallion oil and soy.
💡 Noodle shops
Silk and tailoring
Silk scarves and made-to-measure clothing.
💡 South Bund Fabric Market
Tea
Green teas from the region, such as Longjing from nearby Hangzhou.
💡 Tea shops
White Rabbit candy
Milk sweets from a Shanghai brand.
💡 Supermarkets