Visit Shanghai in December

Plan your Shanghai tour in December?  December sees an autumn slowly morphing into winter in Shanghai and the temperature goes down at a big margin though it is not as cold as that in the northern China.

If you choose this month to tour the megacity of Shanghai, get ready for warm clothes – overcoat, sweater, or even thin winter down jacket.

Though for many travellers, December is not the most desirable month for Shanghai sightseeing, it does offer some exciting perks – huge discounts on accommodations, transportation and entrance fees, plus less crowds of domestic tourists.

The Weather in December in Shanghai

Lying on the southeast coastal area of China, Shanghai has a humid subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons.  Shanghai enters winter in December with average temperature between 3℃ （Night) and 11℃ （Day）.

There is a big temperature difference between day and night.  This month is a bit dry with litter rain. Be ready for change of clothing and drink constantly on your day trip.

Historical Weather Data for November in Shanghai

We’ve collected the following Shanghai’s historical daily weather data which offers very useful weather information on Shanghai in terms of average lowest and highest temperature as well as extreme temperatures.

You may use the historical weather date for December in Shanghai to facilitate your decision on what to wear and what to pack on your future trip to Shanghai.

What to Wear

In December the overall weather condition in Shanghai is relatively stable with the features of being dry and cold. The average temperature in December in Shanghai varies between the highest 11℃ and the lowest 3 ℃ characterized by the big temperature drop between day and night.

Outdoor daytime wear: overcoat, jackets, jeans, overcoat, thin sweater or  light winter clothes;  outdoor evening wear: light down jacket, or overcoat, knit wear ,jeans,winter hat and caps.

Where to Stay

Shanghai is one of the world’s largest metropolitan cities. The huge city offers you plentiful hotel choices from luxury international brand hotels to budget hostel.

Your hotel selection is also affected by the location you are going to choose.  People prefer a convenient hotel in terms of its proximity to subways, shopping centers and attractions you are going to visit.

So first of all, you need to acquaint yourself with the basic knowledge of the district and neighbourhood you are going to stay and your hotel should be close to a metro line, shopping malls, etc.

Shanghai is mainly divided into 16 districts (8 urban districts and 8 suburban districts). Each district has its own core city. If you are on a leisure trip to Shanghai, you expect to stay in one of the 8 urban districts.

The 8 districts are all located in Puxi – to the west bank of Huangpu River while Pudong New District is located to the east bank of Huangpu River. The Pudong New Area is full of highrises, not suitable for leisure travelers.

Basically people would arrange their hotels in one of the 8 Urban Districts. But for business travelers, Pudong New District is also a good option too.

Where to See

As you know, Shanghai is cut into two parts by Huangpu River: Pudong ( to the east of Huangpu River ) and Puxi ( to the west of the Huangpu River ). Most of the historical and scenic sites in shanghai are in Puxi while Pudong is the new development area peppered with numerous futuristic high-rise buildings.

If it is your first time to visit Shanghai, we are happy to present you our version of Top 10 Things to Do in Shanghai for your reference. You are kindly advised to visit Shanghai per your personal taste. Hope our Top 10 Things to Do in Shanghai will be helpful in planning your Shanghai trip. Check out the link – Top 10 Attractions in Shanghai.

What to Eat

Shanghai has a good reputation in Chinese gourmet circles, and boasts one of China’s most characteristic and distinctive cuisines.

You can appreciate the beautiful scenery and enjoy the local food culture as well during your Shanghai tour.

Shanghai cuisine, collecting the traditional of old Shanghai and the fad of new Shanghai, is a place gathering all kinds of snacks such as Nanxiang Xiaolongbao (Steamed Pork Dumplings), a must you should taste on your Shanghai trip.

Nanxiang Xiaolongbao is a traditional snack of Nanxiang Town with a history of more than 100 years. It is deeply popular with the tourists both home and abroad for its thin skin, much stuffing, fresh flavour. You can find Nanxiang Xiaolongbao in many places in Shanghai.

December Events, Holidays & Festivals

Annual Events and Festivals

Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

If you don’t want to do a self-guided tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Shanghai:

Further Readings