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Cherry blossom and the shoulder begins

Shanghai in March

Unpredictable, cheapish, and the start of good weather. Late March brings cherry blossom and the first genuinely pleasant walking days.

Weather
7–16°C / 45–61°F
Rain
10 wet days
Crowds
Low to moderate
Price
Below average until the very end

March is when Shanghai starts to be pleasant again, and it does it unevenly. Early March can still be raw and grey; by the last week you can walk the Concession in a shirt and the city has remembered it is subtropical.

It is also cherry blossom season, which here means less a single famous avenue and more a scattering: Gucun Park for scale, Hongkou Football Stadium for the classic shot, and a dozen ordinary street corners that nobody photographs. If you are here for blossom rather than for specific gardens, you will find it.

What is good about it

  • Cherry blossom from late March — Gucun Park, Hongkou Stadium, and residential streets everywhere
  • First comfortable walking weather after winter
  • Prices still below the spring peak

Watch out for

  • Early March is genuinely cold — do not pack for spring if you arrive before the 15th
  • Shanghai has real rain in March, not just drizzle
  • Pollen is heavy late in the month if you are allergic

What to bring

  • A light waterproof shell, not an umbrella — the wind turns umbrellas inside out
  • Shoes you can walk ten kilometres in on wet pavement
  • One warm layer for evenings

The verdict

A solid value month. Aim for the second half if you can — the difference between early and late March is about ten degrees and thirty cherry trees.

FAQ

Questions

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

When exactly is cherry blossom?

Usually the last week of March into the first week of April, and it moves earlier in warm years. Blossom lasts about a week once it opens.

Is March good for walking routes?

Late March is one of the best times of year for it. Early March is fine but bring a coat and expect grey.

Do I need to book hotels ahead?

Not usually, except around the blossom parks at weekends. Prices stay reasonable.