Puxi Weather in January

January is cold, but workable

Puxi gets properly wintry in January. Days reach about 9°C, and nights can drop to 1°C. The air often feels damp, and rain falls on around nine days, so a long riverside stroll can turn chilly fast. That chill is the main reason January rates only fair here, and if you can pick your dates, October is the better month. December is a little milder and drier than January, and February turns wetter, so January sits in the middle of a cold, unsettled stretch.

You'll still have plenty to do indoors. Spend a rainy spell at the Shanghai Museum or browse the shops around Nanjing Road. On a brighter day, walk the tree-lined streets of the Former French Concession, then duck into a café when the cold catches up. If rain is falling, save the Bund for another day, since it's far less fun when you're standing in the damp.

New Year and Lunar New Year

January brings New Year's Day, but the bigger local holiday may be Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival. Its date changes, so it falls in January only some years. If it does, expect festive decorations and busy travel days around the holiday, and some smaller shops and family-run restaurants may close.

If you hate crowds, avoid travelling during the Spring Festival rush. Outside that period, January is usually quieter than October, the best overall month to visit Puxi. Hotel prices are often softer than in October, though holiday dates can push demand up, so check your dates before you book.

Make the cold work for you

Travelling with kids? Keep outdoor walks short and build in warm stops near People's Square or along Nanjing Road.

A good local plan is to take the Metro to People's Square for the Shanghai Museum, then cross to nearby Yunnan Road for a hot bowl of xiaolongbao, Shanghai-style soup dumplings. The museum gives you a warm, unrushed break, and the dumplings make a welcome winter lunch. Check the museum's current entry arrangements before you set out.