Sunrise time in Shanghai
In Shanghai the sun rises as early as 4:49 AM (June 12) and as late as 6:53 AM (January 9). Here is today’s sunrise with first light and the morning golden hour, then the sunrise time for every month of 2026.
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Next 7 days in Shanghai
Sunrise in Shanghai through the year
The longest day of 2026 is June 21, with 14 h 11 min between sunrise and sunset; the shortest is December 22, with 10 h 7 min. The latest sunrise around midwinter (January 10, 6:53 AM) comes 19 days after the shortest day (December 22), which is why the darkest mornings arrive after the solstice. On the clock, the very latest sunrise of the year is on January 9, just before the clocks go back. Shanghai does not change its clocks for daylight saving time, so sunrise moves only with the seasons.
| Date | First light | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15 | 6:27 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:29 AM | 10 h 20 min |
| Feb 15 | 6:11 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 11 h 5 min |
| Mar 15 | 5:40 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:36 AM | 11 h 57 min |
| Apr 15 | 5:01 AM | 5:26 AM | 5:59 AM | 12 h 56 min |
| May 15 | 4:32 AM | 4:58 AM | 5:32 AM | 13 h 44 min |
| Jun 15 | 4:21 AM | 4:49 AM | 5:25 AM | 14 h 10 min |
| Jul 15 | 4:32 AM | 5:00 AM | 5:35 AM | 13 h 59 min |
| Aug 15 | 4:54 AM | 5:19 AM | 5:52 AM | 13 h 18 min |
| Sep 15 | 5:13 AM | 5:38 AM | 6:10 AM | 12 h 22 min |
| Oct 15 | 5:32 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:29 AM | 11 h 26 min |
| Nov 15 | 5:55 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:55 AM | 10 h 35 min |
| Dec 15 | 6:18 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:21 AM | 10 h 8 min |
First light and golden hour in Shanghai
In Shanghai first light comes about 24 minutes before sunrise around the equinoxes, 28 minutes in late June and 27 minutes in late December; that is the morning blue hour. After sunrise the golden light lasts about 32, 36 and 37 minutes at those times of year.
Where to watch the sunrise in Shanghai
The sun comes up over Pudong, so the Bund and the West Bund promenade look straight toward it across the river, with the Lujiazui towers in front. In summer it rises well to the north of east, in winter well to the south of it.
How these times are calculated
Times are computed for Shanghai (31.22° N, 121.46° E) with the NOAA solar-position algorithm, for a flat horizon, in local time (Asia/Shanghai). They are usually within a minute of published tables. Hills, buildings and weather can hide the sun a few minutes earlier than shown.