The 2012 6 Hours of Shanghai was an endurance auto race held at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China on 28 October 2012. The race was the eighth and season finale of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship season, and was the inaugural running of the 6 Hours of Shanghai.

The 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship was the inaugural running of the World Endurance Championship. It was co-organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The series replaced the former Intercontinental Le Mans Cup held by the ACO from 2010 to 2011. The series was open to Le Mans Prototypes and grand tourer-based racing cars meeting four ACO categories. Several championships, cups, and trophies were awarded in the series' four categories following an eight race season, with a World Championship available to the top scoring drivers and LMP1 category manufacturer.