Shanghai in November

November is the month that rewards people who plan. You get clear skies, comfortable temperatures, the lowest humidity of the year, colourful plane trees on the Concession streets, and none of the crowds of October or April.

The trade-off is daylight. Shanghai has no daylight saving clock here, so by late November it is dark shortly after five. That means starting early and treating dusk — which arrives mid-afternoon — as prime time rather than as the end of the day. The Bund at 4:45pm in November is better than it ever is in July.

What is good about it

• Autumn colour on Wukang Road and the Concession grid, peaking mid-to-late month
• Clear skies — statistically the driest, clearest month
• Lowest crowds outside January

Watch out for

• Dark by about 5pm by mid-month — plan around it
• Mornings are cold; bring a real coat for early starts
• Some outdoor venues wind down for the season

What to bring

• A proper jacket for early mornings and evenings
• Layers for a 15-degree daily swing
• Nothing waterproof needed beyond a light shell

The verdict

If you can accept darkness by 5pm, this is the best combination of weather, crowds and price in the year.