Shanghai hits 39°C on July 15, the first day of San Fu's 40-day heat period. The Middle Fu brings 20 peak days. Orange alert issued. Expect humidity and intense heat through August 23.
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Shanghai Hits 39°C on Day One of San Fu — 40 More Days to Go
If you thought last week was hot, brace yourself.
Today, July 15, marks the beginning of San Fu (三伏) — the traditional Chinese term for the year's most intense heat period. This year it runs for 40 days, ten days longer than last year, stretching all the way to August 23.
This morning, Shanghai Meteorological Bureau issued an orange heat warning, with today's temperature expected to reach 39°C in the city centre. By 10am, Xujiahui was already among the top five hottest spots in the entire country. The city is firmly in what locals call "barbecue mode" — stepping outside feels less like going for a walk and more like opening an oven door.
And here is the uncomfortable truth: today might not even be the worst of it.
What is San Fu?
San Fu falls between two traditional solar terms — Minor Heat and End of Heat — and is considered the most oppressive period of the Chinese calendar year. It is not just the heat. It is the humidity on top of the heat that makes Shanghai summers particularly brutal. It does not just feel hot. It feels hotter than it actually is.
How San Fu breaks down:
First Fu (初伏): July 15 – July 24 (10 days)
Middle Fu (中伏): July 25 – August 13 (20 days) — the longest and typically the hottest stretch
Last Fu (末伏): August 14 – August 23 (10 days)
The Middle Fu is the one to watch. A full 20 days of peak heat and humidity — and historically, this is when Shanghai's temperatures are at their most punishing. Last year, this period regularly saw temperatures exceed 40°C. This year, with San Fu running 10 days longer than usual, there is little reason to expect it will be any gentler.
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If you see locals drinking a dark herbal tea from street stalls or convenience stores, that is 伏茶 (fu cha) — a traditional cooling drink consumed during San Fu. Locals swear by it. Worth trying.
Summer in Shanghai is never easy. This year, it has 40 days to go — and it is just getting started.
Source: 青春上海
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