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.

8 Urban Districts
Jing’an District (静安区)
Huangpu District (黄浦区)
Xuhui District (徐汇区)
Changning District (长宁区)
Putuo District (普陀区)
Zhabei District (闸北区)
Hongkou District (虹口区)
Yangpu District (杨浦区)

8 Suburban Districts
Pudong New District (浦东新区)
Baoshan District (宝山区)
Minhang District (闵行区)
Jiading District (嘉定区)
Jinshan District (金山区)
Songjiang District (松江区)
Qingpu District (青浦区)
Fengxian District (奉贤区）

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.

For more information on each district and its hotel choices,  check out the link Where to Stay in Shanghai.

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.

Though winter is not the best season to visit Shanghai in terms of weather, it doesn’t make much difference to visit Shanghai in winter from other seasons due to its static city landscapes. Shanghai winter tour has its own advantage – less crowded, big discounts for admission fees, hotels and flights. Check out Top Things to do in Shanghai in winter.

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.

We’ve rounded up the top 10 best restaurants in Shanghai, so  get ready to have a bite! Please check out Top 10 Best Restaurants in Shanghai  and Top 10 Shanghai Classic Vegetarian Restaurants  for more information.

December Events, Holidays & Festivals

Annual Events and Festivals

1. National Legal Publicity Day 全国法制宣传日
The National Legal Publicity Day falls on 4 December which was inaugurated in 2001.  It is aimed at promoting the constitution sprite as well as building a harmonious society in China.

2. Christmas Eve 圣诞之夜
If you happen to spend your Christmas eve in Beijing during your Xian tour, you may take some adventure going on to the streets to explore and spend a local Christmas eve.

3. New Year Eve Ceremony 新年之夜欢庆
Each year Xian local tourism bureau will hold a fantastic “New Year Celebration” on the eve of the coming new year in a unique way.  Turn to a local travel agency or visit Xian tourism bureau’s official website for the new year celebration.

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:

Shanghai Tour
Shanghai Day Tour
Shanghai Multi-Day Tour
Shanghai Evening Tour
Shanghai Cruise Port ( Transfer& Excursions )
Shanghai Beijing Tour
Shanghai Xian Tour
Shanghai Car Rental with Driver

Further Readings

Top Things to do in Shanghai in winter
Top 10 Attractions in Shanghai
Shanghai’s Top 10 Iconic Landmarks
Top 10 Markets in Shanghai
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Shanghai
Top 10 Things to Do at night in Shanghai
Best Places for Autumn Leaves in Shanghai
Top 10 Things to Do in Winter in Shanghai
Top 10 Souvenirs in Shanghai
Top 10 Photo Spots in Shanghai
10 Non-Touristy Things to Do in Shanghai

Any questions, just drop a line.