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Best month, argue with me

Shanghai in April

Warm, green, clear, and before the crowds. If you have one choice of when to come, this is it — with one week you must avoid.

Weather
12–21°C / 54–70°F
Rain
9 wet days
Crowds
Moderate — high only in Tomb Sweeping week
Price
Shoulder to high

April is the month Shanghai gets right. Trees are fully out along Wukang Road and the plane trees are green rather than bare, the temperature sits between 15 and 22°C most days, humidity has not arrived yet, and you can walk from morning to evening without thinking about it.

The one trap is Qingming, Tomb Sweeping, which falls on 4 or 5 April and carries a three-day holiday. Domestic travel volume that week rivals Chinese New Year. Check the dates and either avoid them or commit to being somewhere specific rather than on a train.

What is good about it

  • Plane trees in full leaf along the Concession grid
  • Outdoor café and bar terraces reopen
  • Water towns — Zhujiajiao, Tongli, Nanxun — at their prettiest

Watch out for

  • Qingming holiday (around 4–5 April) — avoid for three days either side
  • Hotel prices jump for the holiday week
  • Weekend crowds at Wukang Road start ramping up

What to bring

  • Light layers — April mornings and evenings differ by ten degrees
  • Comfortable walking shoes, this is the walking month
  • Sunglasses — the sun is stronger than people expect

The verdict

The strongest all-round month. Avoid the three-day Tomb Sweeping holiday and everything else is close to ideal.

FAQ

Questions

Everything on this site is written and re-checked on the ground. When something changes, this page changes.

April or November?

April, marginally. November is clearer and less crowded, but it gets dark by five. April gives you longer days.

Is it warm enough to sit outside?

From mid-April yes, especially in the afternoon. Bring a layer for after sunset.

How bad is Qingming really?

For rail travel and highways, very bad. Within the city it is noticeable but manageable — just avoid travelling out of Shanghai that week.