China · month by month
Shanghai food calendar
What is in season in Shanghai, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Shanghai
The best of January: Nian gao and eight-treasure rice, Yu Garden Lantern Festival.
Eat it now
- Nian gao and eight-treasure riceLunar New Year
New Year sweets.
Jan–Feb
On the calendar
- Yu Garden Lantern FestivalLunar New Year
Lanterns and snacks in the old town.
Jan–Feb
Plan around
- Spring Festival closuresLunar New Year
Many small restaurants close for a week or more.
Jan–Feb
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Shanghai
The best of February: Nian gao and eight-treasure rice, City God Temple Fair.
Eat it now
- Nian gao and eight-treasure riceLunar New Year
New Year sweets.
Jan–Feb
On the calendar
- City God Temple Fair (around Lantern Festival)
Festive event in Chinese New Year season; exact 2027 dates not retrieved; not food-specific
- Yu Garden Lantern FestivalLunar New Year
Lanterns and snacks in the old town.
Jan–Feb
Plan around
- Spring Festival closuresLunar New Year
Many small restaurants close for a week or more.
Jan–Feb
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Shanghai
Shoulder seasonThe best of March: Spring bamboo and tender greens.
In season
- Spring bamboo and tender greens
Spring menus with bamboo shoots, toon shoots and shepherd's purse wontons.
Mar–Apr
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Shanghai
Peak seasonThe best of April: Qingtuan, Spring bamboo and tender greens.
In season
- Spring bamboo and tender greens
Spring menus with bamboo shoots, toon shoots and shepherd's purse wontons.
Mar–Apr
Eat it now
- QingtuanQingming
Green rice balls filled with red bean or salted egg.
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Shanghai
Peak seasonPlan around
- Closures
Golden Week (early Oct) and Labour Day (early May) are crowd periods, not closures
May, Oct
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Shanghai
A hard monthThe best of June: Lobster crayfish and summer noodles.
In season
- Lobster crayfish and summer noodles
Xiaolongxia (crayfish) and cold sesame noodles.
Jun–Aug
Plan around
- Plum rainsJune to July
Hot and wet.
Jun–Jul
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Shanghai
A hard monthThe best of July: Lobster crayfish and summer noodles.
In season
- Lobster crayfish and summer noodles
Xiaolongxia (crayfish) and cold sesame noodles.
Jun–Aug
Plan around
- Plum rainsJune to July
Hot and wet.
Jun–Jul
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Shanghai
A hard monthThe best of August: Lobster crayfish and summer noodles.
In season
- Lobster crayfish and summer noodles
Xiaolongxia (crayfish) and cold sesame noodles.
Jun–Aug
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Shanghai
Peak seasonThe best of September: Fresh-meat mooncakes, Roasted chestnuts, sweet osmanthus desserts, roasted sweet potatoes and Hairy crab season.
In season
- Roasted chestnuts, sweet osmanthus desserts, roasted sweet potatoes
Autumn (Nomado Travel)
Sep–Nov - Hairy crab
Yangcheng Lake crabs, steamed and eaten with ginger vinegar; the city's autumn obsession.
Sep–Dec
Eat it now
- Fresh-meat mooncakesMid-Autumn Festival
Shanghai's savory pork mooncakes, queued for at the old bakeries.
Sep–Oct
On the calendar
- One of the world’s 100 best food eventsHairy crab seasonUsually September to December · a season, not a single date
Yangcheng Lake crabs, steamed and eaten with ginger and black vinegar; females are best in October, males in November.
How to go: Eat them at a crab house in Shanghai, or in Hong Kong's Cantonese restaurants.
Sep–Dec
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Shanghai
Peak seasonThe best of October: Fresh-meat mooncakes, Roasted chestnuts, sweet osmanthus desserts, roasted sweet potatoes and National Day holiday.
In season
- Roasted chestnuts, sweet osmanthus desserts, roasted sweet potatoes
Autumn (Nomado Travel)
Sep–Nov - Hairy crab
Yangcheng Lake crabs, steamed and eaten with ginger vinegar; the city's autumn obsession.
Sep–Dec
Eat it now
- Fresh-meat mooncakesMid-Autumn Festival
Shanghai's savory pork mooncakes, queued for at the old bakeries.
Sep–Oct
On the calendar
- National Day holidayGolden Week (1-7 October)
The busiest travel week; restaurants are full.
- One of the world’s 100 best food eventsHairy crab seasonUsually September to December · a season, not a single date
Yangcheng Lake crabs, steamed and eaten with ginger and black vinegar; females are best in October, males in November.
How to go: Eat them at a crab house in Shanghai, or in Hong Kong's Cantonese restaurants.
Sep–Dec
Plan around
- Closures
Golden Week (early Oct) and Labour Day (early May) are crowd periods, not closures
May, Oct
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Shanghai
Shoulder seasonThe best of November: Roasted chestnuts, sweet osmanthus desserts, roasted sweet potatoes, Hairy crab and Hairy crab season.
In season
- Roasted chestnuts, sweet osmanthus desserts, roasted sweet potatoes
Autumn (Nomado Travel)
Sep–Nov - Hairy crab
Yangcheng Lake crabs, steamed and eaten with ginger vinegar; the city's autumn obsession.
Sep–Dec
On the calendar
- One of the world’s 100 best food eventsHairy crab seasonUsually September to December · a season, not a single date
Yangcheng Lake crabs, steamed and eaten with ginger and black vinegar; females are best in October, males in November.
How to go: Eat them at a crab house in Shanghai, or in Hong Kong's Cantonese restaurants.
Sep–Dec
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Shanghai
The best of December: Hairy crab and Hairy crab season.
In season
- Hairy crab
Yangcheng Lake crabs, steamed and eaten with ginger vinegar; the city's autumn obsession.
Sep–Dec
On the calendar
- One of the world’s 100 best food eventsHairy crab seasonUsually September to December · a season, not a single date
Yangcheng Lake crabs, steamed and eaten with ginger and black vinegar; females are best in October, males in November.
How to go: Eat them at a crab house in Shanghai, or in Hong Kong's Cantonese restaurants.
Sep–Dec
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.