Longest and shortest day in Shanghai
In Shanghai, China, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 14h 11m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 10h 7m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 05:58 | 18:05 | 12h 7m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 04:50 | 19:01 | 14h 11m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:42 | 17:51 | 12h 9m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 06:48 | 16:55 | 10h 7m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:53 | 17:13 | 10h 20m |
| February | 06:36 | 17:40 | 11h 5m |
| March | 06:05 | 18:01 | 11h 57m |
| April | 05:26 | 18:22 | 12h 55m |
| May | 04:58 | 18:42 | 13h 44m |
| June | 04:49 | 18:59 | 14h 10m |
| July | 05:00 | 18:59 | 13h 59m |
| August | 05:19 | 18:37 | 13h 18m |
| September | 05:38 | 18:00 | 12h 22m |
| October | 05:56 | 17:22 | 11h 26m |
| November | 06:20 | 16:55 | 10h 35m |
| December | 06:44 | 16:53 | 10h 8m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Shanghai
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Shanghai leans toward the Sun for part of the year and away for the rest. When it leans toward the Sun the days lengthen and the Sun climbs higher; half a year later the opposite happens. The size of the swing depends on how far Shanghai sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Shanghai
When is the longest day in Shanghai?
The longest day in Shanghai falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 14h 11m of daylight, sunrise at 04:50 and sunset at 19:01.
When is the shortest day in Shanghai?
The shortest day in Shanghai falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 10h 7m of daylight, sunrise at 06:48 and sunset at 16:55.
How much does day length change through the year in Shanghai?
Between the longest and shortest day, Shanghai gains and loses about 4h 4m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Shanghai's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.