Question 1

How many hours of daylight does Shanghai get today?

Accepted Answer

Shanghai currently gets approximately 12 hours and 36 minutes of daylight today. This varies throughout the year — days are longest around the summer solstice (June in the Northern Hemisphere, December in the Southern Hemisphere) and shortest around the winter solstice. At 31.2° latitude, Shanghai sees moderate variation, with summer days noticeably longer than winter days. Our calculations use the SunCalc astronomical library for accuracy within 1–2 minutes.

Question 2

What time does the sun rise in Shanghai?

Accepted Answer

Sunrise times in Shanghai change throughout the year based on the Earth's axial tilt and the city's position at 31.2° latitude. Use the table above to see today's exact sunrise time, as well as dawn (civil twilight) and other twilight phases. The earliest sunrise typically occurs around the summer solstice, while the latest sunrise happens near the winter solstice. The difference between earliest and latest sunrise can be over two hours. All sunrise calculations are based on NOAA solar position algorithms via the SunCalc library.

Question 3

What time does the sun set in Shanghai?

Accepted Answer

Sunset times in Shanghai vary by season due to the Earth's orbital mechanics and the city's latitude of 31.2°. Check the table above for today's exact sunset time, including dusk and twilight phases. The latest sunset typically occurs a few days after the summer solstice, while the earliest sunset happens a few days before the winter solstice. At mid-latitudes, you can expect sunset to vary by 2–3 hours across the seasons.

Question 4

How does day length change throughout the year in Shanghai?

Accepted Answer

Shanghai at 31.2° latitude experiences moderate seasonal day length variation. Summer days are noticeably longer than winter days, with daylight typically ranging from about 8 to 16 hours depending on the time of year. The rate of change is fastest around the equinoxes (March and September), when day length changes by several minutes each day. Around the solstices, the rate of change slows as day length approaches its maximum or minimum. This makes spring and autumn the seasons with the most noticeable daily changes in sunrise and sunset times.

Question 5

What is civil twilight in Shanghai?

Accepted Answer

Civil twilight in Shanghai is the period when the sun is between 0° and 6° below the horizon. During civil twilight, there is enough natural light for most outdoor activities without artificial lighting. It occurs just before sunrise (dawn) and just after sunset (dusk). At mid-latitudes, civil twilight typically lasts about 25–35 minutes. The exact duration for Shanghai is shown in the twilight data table above.

Question 6

What are the different twilight phases?

Accepted Answer

There are three twilight phases, each defined by the sun's angle below the horizon. Civil twilight (0°–6°) is the brightest phase, with enough light for outdoor activities without artificial lighting. Nautical twilight (6°–12°) is dimmer but still allows sailors to see the horizon for celestial navigation. Astronomical twilight (12°–18°) is nearly dark, with only the faintest glow on the horizon, and most stars become visible. Below 18° is considered full astronomical night. The duration of each phase varies by latitude and season — our data table above shows all twilight phases for Shanghai.

Question 7

When is the longest day in Shanghai?

Accepted Answer

The longest day in Shanghai occurs around the summer solstice. For Shanghai in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day is around June 20–21. On this date, Shanghai experiences its earliest sunrise and near-latest sunset of the year. At 31.2° latitude, the longest day is typically 14–16 hours of daylight. The shortest day (winter solstice) occurs approximately six months later.

Question 8

Does daylight saving time affect sunrise and sunset times in Shanghai?

Accepted Answer

Shanghai does not observe daylight saving time, so sunrise and sunset times change only due to natural seasonal variation throughout the year. The gradual shift in sunrise and sunset times follows a smooth curve driven by the Earth's axial tilt and orbital position. This makes it easier to predict sunrise and sunset patterns in Shanghai compared to cities that observe DST, where clock changes create abrupt jumps in the schedule.

Astronomical Dawn	4:12:42 AM
Nautical Dawn	4:42:00 AM
Civil Dawn	5:10:46 AM
Sunrise	5:35:14 AM
Golden Hour End	6:07:21 AM
Solar Noon	11:53:29 AM
Golden Hour Start	5:39:37 PM
Sunset	6:11:44 PM
Civil Dusk	6:36:12 PM
Nautical Dusk	7:04:58 PM
Astronomical Dusk	7:34:17 PM
Day Length	12h 36m

Moonrise	3:20:06 AM
Moonset	4:31:23 PM
Moon Phase	🌘 Waning Crescent
Illumination	10%

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Day Length	Moonrise	Moonset	Phase
Sep 1, Tue	5:31 AM	6:20 PM	12h 49m	8:22 PM	9:17 AM	🌖
Sep 2, Wed	5:31 AM	6:19 PM	12h 47m	9:01 PM	10:25 AM	🌖
Sep 3, Thu	5:32 AM	6:18 PM	12h 46m	9:48 PM	11:35 AM	🌗
Sep 4, Fri	5:32 AM	6:16 PM	12h 44m	10:44 PM	12:47 PM	🌗
Sep 5, Sat	5:33 AM	6:15 PM	12h 42m	11:48 PM	1:55 PM	🌗
Sep 6, Sun	5:34 AM	6:14 PM	12h 40m	12:57 AM	2:55 PM	🌘
Sep 7, Mon	5:34 AM	6:13 PM	12h 38m	2:09 AM	3:47 PM	🌘
Sep 8, Tue	5:35 AM	6:11 PM	12h 36m	3:20 AM	4:31 PM	🌘
Sep 9, Wed	5:35 AM	6:10 PM	12h 35m	4:27 AM	5:08 PM	🌘
Sep 10, Thu	5:36 AM	6:09 PM	12h 33m	5:32 AM	5:41 PM	🌑
Sep 11, Fri	5:36 AM	6:07 PM	12h 31m	6:34 AM	6:11 PM	🌑
Sep 12, Sat	5:37 AM	6:06 PM	12h 29m	7:34 AM	6:39 PM	🌑
Sep 13, Sun	5:38 AM	6:05 PM	12h 27m	—	7:08 PM	🌒
Sep 14, Mon	5:38 AM	6:04 PM	12h 25m	8:34 AM	7:38 PM	🌒
Sep 15, Tue	5:39 AM	6:02 PM	12h 23m	9:33 AM	8:11 PM	🌒
Sep 16, Wed	5:39 AM	6:01 PM	12h 22m	10:32 AM	8:49 PM	🌒
Sep 17, Thu	5:40 AM	6:00 PM	12h 20m	11:30 AM	9:31 PM	🌓
Sep 18, Fri	5:40 AM	5:58 PM	12h 18m	12:25 PM	10:18 PM	🌓
Sep 19, Sat	5:41 AM	5:57 PM	12h 16m	1:16 PM	11:11 PM	🌓
Sep 20, Sun	5:42 AM	5:56 PM	12h 14m	2:02 PM	12:07 AM	🌓
Sep 21, Mon	5:42 AM	5:54 PM	12h 12m	2:43 PM	1:05 AM	🌔
Sep 22, Tue	5:43 AM	5:53 PM	12h 10m	3:18 PM	2:04 AM	🌔
Sep 23, Wed	5:43 AM	5:52 PM	12h 8m	3:51 PM	3:02 AM	🌔
Sep 24, Thu	5:44 AM	5:50 PM	12h 6m	4:20 PM	4:01 AM	🌔
Sep 25, Fri	5:44 AM	5:49 PM	12h 5m	4:49 PM	5:00 AM	🌕
Sep 26, Sat	5:45 AM	5:48 PM	12h 3m	5:17 PM	6:01 AM	🌕
Sep 27, Sun	5:46 AM	5:46 PM	12h 1m	5:47 PM	7:03 AM	🌕
Sep 28, Mon	5:46 AM	5:45 PM	11h 59m	6:19 PM	—	🌕
Sep 29, Tue	5:47 AM	5:44 PM	11h 57m	6:56 PM	8:09 AM	🌖
Sep 30, Wed	5:47 AM	5:43 PM	11h 55m	7:40 PM	9:18 AM	🌖

Sunrise & Sunset in Shanghai, China

Sun Times

Moon

Monthly Summary — September 2026

Twilight Phases in Shanghai

Holidays in China

Explore Shanghai

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunrise & Sunset in Shanghai

Sunrise & Sunset in Other Cities