Warm, green, and then a wall of people
Shanghai in May
Genuinely lovely weather until Labour Day arrives on the 1st and rearranges the city for a week.
May starts with Labour Day on the 1st, which until recently meant a full seven-day holiday and universal travel. It has been compressed in recent years, but the first week is still one of the busiest of the year and prices follow accordingly.
From about the 8th onward, May is excellent: warm without being tropical, long daylight, everything green, and pleasant evenings for eating outside. It is the last comfortable month before the plum rain arrives in June.
What is good about it
- Long warm evenings in the Concession
- Everything green and in flower
- Reasonable crowds after the first week
Watch out for
- Labour Day holiday — 1 May and the days around it
- Humidity starts rising noticeably by late May
- Book the first week months ahead if you must travel then
What to bring
- Light clothes plus one rain layer
- Insect repellent if you are doing the water towns
- Breathable fabrics — humidity climbs fast at the end of the month
The verdict
Avoid the first week. After Labour Day the city exhales and you get May weather with April calm.
FAQ
Questions
Everything on this site is written and re-checked on the ground. When something changes, this page changes.
How long does the Labour Day rush last?
Plan for the first seven days of May being busy and expensive; it settles after that.
Is May too hot for walking?
Early May is perfect. Late May is warm and getting sticky — walk mornings and evenings, do museums at midday.
Typhoon season yet?
No. Typhoons affecting Shanghai generally run July to September.
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