Thought It Was Rain in Shanghai—Turns Out It’s Cicadas’ Pee!

Why Cicadas Are Flooding Shanghai This Summer

"Water Dripping from Trees... It's Actually Urine!": Why Cicadas Are Flooding Shanghai This Summer

With the peak of summer in full swing, many residents in Shanghai have noticed something unusual—this year, cicadas are not just noisy, they're everywhere. Some say their relentless buzzing keeps them up at night, while others are baffled (and annoyed) by mysterious droplets falling from trees. This hot topic even made its way onto trending searches.

Check our latest video on China Visa and foreign-related knowledge!

Follow our channel for updates 👇

So, why are cicadas swarming the city this year? And what's behind the dripping liquid—could it be harmful?

According to Associate Professor Zhou Xingmiao from Huazhong Agricultural University, cicadas follow a "boom and bust" population cycle known as "big and small years." These cycles depend on various environmental and biological factors. Cicada eggs, which hatch and fall into the soil in autumn and winter, are sensitive to climate and environmental conditions that influence their development. This year, several cicada species with overlapping life cycles have matured simultaneously, causing an explosive increase in numbers.

Interestingly, Zhou emphasizes this surge isn't directly caused by high temperatures. Cicadas regularly appear in many parts of China; it's just that the size of the population fluctuates. What's different this year is how noticeable they've become.

As for the tree-dripping phenomenon? Zhou confirms it's actually cicada urine. These insects feed on plant sap using a piercing-sucking mouthpart. As they digest the sap, they excrete excess liquid—mainly water, but also containing sugars and amino acids, which gives it a slightly sweet smell. Although harmless to humans and fabrics, it can cause discomfort and cleaning hassles.

The louder-than-usual cicada song is another side effect of this "big year." It's primarily a mating call from male cicadas during their short adult life span—just a few weeks to about a month. Zhou adds that cicada noise has been documented in Chinese poetry for thousands of years—it's a natural part of summer. While completely eliminating the sound isn't practical, avoiding heavily infested areas or using earplugs could help.

And what can be done about the dripping? Physical barriers like umbrellas or covers are the simplest solutions.

Ecologically speaking, the impact of more cicadas is minimal. While they do lay eggs in the tender branches of trees, which may affect plant growth, and their underground nymphs feed on root sap, only in severe droughts or high-density conditions do they pose any real threat to vegetation.

Zhou notes that other cities like Wuhan have also seen spikes in cicada numbers this year—it's not unique to Shanghai, though the local conditions make it more noticeable.

Online, some have joked: "This wouldn't be a problem if Shanghai people ate cicadas!"

Another quipped: "Is it really summer without cicada songs?"

What about you? Have you noticed more cicadas this year? Have you been surprised by a 'drip from above'? Tell us your stories in the comments!

Source: 青年报

Get daily news, tips, and events in Shanghai

Connect with expat communities and industry experts

For the latest jobs&policy updates, scan the code below to follow AnyJob! 

If you have any questions about China visa applications (work visa, company registration and more), please contact our visa consultant Emily.

Click "Wow" if you like this article