Get your pack ready
What to Pack for Shanghai
Shanghai has four genuine seasons and a humid subtropical climate, which means the right packing list in April is the wrong one in July. Below is what to wear season by season, plus the handful of things that are much easier to arrange before you fly than after you land.
Sort these out before you fly
Four things are far harder to arrange once you have landed. A travel eSIM, so you have data from the moment you land — and because it roams through a network outside the mainland, Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook keep working on it without any extra software. A VPN if you also expect to use hotel wi-fi or a local SIM, where those apps are blocked; test yours at home and treat it as a bonus rather than a guarantee, since the 2026 crackdown made every provider less reliable — and note that you cannot download one once you are in China. A mobile payment app linked to your card, since Shanghai runs largely cashless. And your passport with the right entry permission for your route, whether that is a visa or visa-free transit.
Power and plugs
China runs on 220 V at 50 Hz. Sockets commonly take flat two-pin and three-pin plugs, and many will accept a European two-pin as well, but bring a universal adapter rather than gambling on the socket in your room. Check that anything you plug in is rated for 220 V — most laptop and phone chargers are, most hairdryers from 110 V countries are not.
Shoes, and why they matter more here
Shanghai is a walking city and a metro city. A full day on the Bund, through Yu Garden and along Nanjing Road is comfortably fifteen thousand steps, much of it on stone and concrete. Bring shoes you have already broken in. This is the single most common thing visitors get wrong.
Worth having in the bag
A compact umbrella year-round — rain arrives quickly in every season. A refillable water bottle. Any prescription medication in its original packaging, with a copy of the prescription. A power bank for long days out. Some cash for small vendors and temple entrance fees, even though most places prefer a phone. And tissues, which are not always supplied in public bathrooms.
Travelling with a layover only
If Shanghai is a connection rather than a stay, pack for the city inside your cabin bag: a layer, an umbrella and your charger. Then leave the bag at the airport left-luggage counter and walk out with as little as possible. You will move faster and enjoy it considerably more.
What to wear, season by season
| Season | Typical daytime | What to wear |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | 10–25 °C / 50–77 °F | The best time to visit. Layers, a light jacket and a compact umbrella — spring is changeable and often wet. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | 26–35 °C / 79–95 °F | Hot and very humid, with heavy rain in the plum-rain season from mid-June to early July, and the peak of typhoon season from mid-July. Light breathable clothing, sun protection, a real umbrella, and a layer for aggressive indoor air conditioning. |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | 15–28 °C / 59–82 °F | The other great window, though September still falls inside typhoon season — October onwards is the safer bet. Comfortable and mostly dry. Light layers and a jacket for the evening. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | 1–10 °C / 34–50 °F | Cold, damp and windy along the river, and buildings are not always well heated. A proper coat, scarf and gloves — the damp makes 5 °C feel a good deal colder than it reads. |
Figures are typical daytime ranges rather than guarantees — check the forecast in the week before you fly, and note that humidity makes both the heat and the cold feel stronger than the number suggests.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time of year to visit Shanghai?
Spring and autumn — roughly late March to May, and September to early November. Both are mild and mostly dry. Midsummer is hot and very humid, and midwinter is cold and damp.
What plug adapter do I need for China?
China uses 220 V at 50 Hz with flat two-pin and three-pin sockets. Bring a universal adapter, and check that your devices accept 220 V.
Do I need cash in Shanghai?
Mostly no — the city runs on mobile payments. Carry a small amount for street vendors and entrance fees, and set up a payment app before you arrive if you can.
Can I drink the tap water in Shanghai?
No, not without boiling it. Bottled water is cheap and everywhere, and most hotels supply a kettle and complimentary bottles.