Shanghai Typhoon Travel Guide: Closures, Transport & Flight Cancellations

Does Shanghai get typhoons? Can you still travel as usual if a typhoon rolls in? This guide rounds up common questions about typhoons in Shanghai, including whether attractions close, how transportation and river cruises are affected, the rules on typhoon days off, and what to do if flights are canceled.

Does Shanghai get typhoons?

Photo by Misael Silvera on Unsplash

The answer is yes. Shanghai sits on the eastern coast of China and can indeed be affected by typhoons, especially in summer and fall, when tropical cyclones can bring strong winds and heavy rain.

Shanghai has a color-coded early warning system for typhoons and other weather hazards, typically divided into Blue, Yellow, Orange, and Red. The higher the alert level, the greater the potential impacts and risks from the weather, and transportation, attractions, and outdoor activities may be adjusted accordingly.

If your trip to Shanghai happens to fall during a typhoon-prone season, it's smart to prepare before you take off:

• Start keeping an eye on Shanghai's weather and any typhoon developments a week before you take off.
• Double-check the typhoon track 2 to 3 days before departure.
• Check the official weather alerts every day while you're traveling.
• Mix outdoor and indoor attractions, and don’t fill every day with outdoor activities.
• On the day you head home, don't cram in too many sights—leave yourself some buffer time to get to the airport.

What should you do if a typhoon hits during your trip to Shanghai?

You've arrived in Shanghai only to discover a typhoon might be on the way; don't rush to cancel all your plans just yet. A typhoon's impact on Shanghai can keep changing: sometimes it's just brief rain, and other times there may be strong winds and transportation restrictions, so the most important thing is to check the current situation first.

First, confirm the typhoon's actual impact

First, check what alert level is currently in effect in Shanghai; don't just read a headline that says 'Typhoon affecting Shanghai' and immediately assume every attraction is off-limits.

Please start by confirming the following details:

• Is a typhoon warning currently in effect?
• Is the alert level blue, yellow, orange, or red?
• Whether heavy rain or other weather alerts were issued at the same time.
• Is the local government urging people to limit going out?
• Are the main transportation services operating normally?

Switch the outdoor itinerary to the indoor backup plan

One of the best things about traveling in Shanghai is that even when it rains, there are plenty of indoor activities you can plan! Rather than braving the wind and rain to power through the sights, just reshuffle the order.

Your planned outdoor activities can be put on hold for now, for example:

• A stroll along the Bund.
• Strolling through neighborhoods like Wukang Road and Anfu Road.
• Outdoor adventures around Yu Garden.
• Huangpu River cruise.
• Ferry.
• City sightseeing that involves lots of walking.

You can switch to indoor activities, for example:

• Shanghai Museum and Shanghai Ocean Aquarium.
• Shopping mall.
• Shanghai's signature restaurants.
• Indoor exhibitions.

When gale-force winds and torrential rain hit, don't head out

If a typhoon has already brought strong winds and heavy rain, we don’t recommend pushing ahead with a "since we’re already here, we should still go" mindset. During a typhoon, it’s not just about getting soaked—there can be other safety risks as well, including:

• Roadside trees or objects have been blown over by strong winds.
• Falling objects overhead.
• Road flooding.
• Some areas are experiencing traffic disruptions.
• Water transportation is suspended.
• The outdoor attraction is temporarily closed.

Confirm tomorrow's transportation in advance

If the typhoon’s impact continues into the next day, check your transportation early—don’t wait until you’re about to head out to start checking! We recommend confirming the following in this order:

Plus, keep your phone well charged and make sure your portable charger is fully topped up. Take screenshots of important items like your flight tickets, hotel reservations, and transportation details in advance, so you won’t be scrambling if the internet gets spotty and you can’t find the info.

Does Shanghai have typhoon days off?

Shanghai follows the warning levels for extreme weather like typhoons and torrential rain, and takes appropriate measures for schools, businesses, and other institutions.

In other words, Shanghai is more about watching alert levels and real-world conditions to decide how to respond, rather than declaring typhoon days off for everyone just because a storm is on the way.

Here’s an example: even if schools are closed, that doesn’t mean every mall will shut; conversely, even without a citywide work suspension, Huangpu River cruises might still be canceled due to high winds.

What should you do if your flight gets canceled during your trip to Shanghai?

First, check whether your flight is delayed, canceled, or still unconfirmed.

Step 1: Check the official flight status

See first:

• The airline's official app or website.
• Order notification from the booking platform.
• Airline text messages or emails.
• Airport flight updates.

Don't just rely on social media or messages forwarded by friends. During a typhoon, flight information changes quickly—some flights may be canceled while others are simply delayed—so be sure to confirm the latest status of your own flight.

Step 2: Confirm your rebooking or refund options

If your flight is officially canceled, check the options offered by the airline or your booking platform. Common ways to handle it include:

• Switch to the next available flight.
• Reschedule to another date.
• We'll process your ticket refund once the requirements are met.
• Special refund and change policies are handled according to the airline’s official announcements.

Keep in mind that flight disruptions caused by typhoons are considered weather-related rather than airline operational issues, so how lodging, meals, and other additional expenses are handled may vary.

Step 3: Secure your accommodations as soon as possible

If you're certain you can't leave Shanghai that day, don't keep waiting for the airline to notify you about accommodation arrangements.

You might want to check these first:

• Whether the airline offers lodging assistance.
• Can we extend our stay at the original hotel?
• Are there still any rooms available near the airport?
• Is transportation from downtown to the airport running normally?

If a typhoon causes widespread flight cancellations, nearby hotels can fill up fast. So once you’re sure you need to stay an extra night, book right away.

Step 4: Keep all your documentation

If you’ve purchased travel insurance, remember to save all relevant documentation after a flight delay or cancellation.

We recommend keeping:

• Flight delay or cancellation notice.
• Airline text messages or emails.
• Flight tickets and booking history.
• Receipt for additional lodging.
• Additional transportation receipt.
• Dining receipt.
• A flight irregularity certificate issued by the airline.

Whether you can file a claim later will depend on your actual coverage and policy terms, but hang on to your documents now so you won't be scrambling when it's time to follow up.

Step 5: Check if it's a single-ticket itinerary

If your itinerary has you connecting in Shanghai before heading on to another city, make sure both segments are on the same booking under a single itinerary.

There's a big difference between the two situations:

• Connecting tickets: Usually handled by the airline based on your overall itinerary.
• Booking flights separately: If your first flight is canceled, it doesn't mean your next one will be automatically changed.

If you bought separate tickets and a typhoon delays or cancels your first leg, you may need to handle your later flights on your own. So when you’re planning connections during typhoon season, it’s best not to schedule tight layovers.