About Shanghai, China

Shanghai is one of the largest cities in China, and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, with over 20 million people. Located on China's central eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the city is administered as a municipality of the People's Republic of China with province-level status.

Originally a fishing and textiles town, Shanghai grew to importance in the 19th century due to its favorable port location and as one of the cities opened to foreign trade by the 1842 Treaty of Nanking. The city flourished as a center of commerce between east and west, and became a multinational hub of finance and business by the 1930s. However, Shanghai's prosperity was interrupted after the 1949 Communist takeover and the subsequent cessation of foreign investment. Economic reforms in 1990 resulted in intense development and financing in Shanghai, and in 2005 Shanghai became the world's largest cargo port. (Source : Wikipedia)

In Chinese: Shàng Hǎi or 上海

The City Area: Shanghai is located at latitude 31°14′N and longitude 121°29′E. It lies in the middle of China's east-facing Pacific Coast, and sits on the Yangtze River Delta on China's eastern coast, and is roughly the same distance from Beijing and Hong Kong. The city proper is divided by the Huangpu River, a river arm of the Yangtze River. Puxi is the historic center of the city and located on the western side of the Huangpu River, while a new financial district, Pudong, has developed on the eastern bank with emerging skyscrapers and impressive new buildings. The EXPO is also located on the Pudong side. The vast majority of Shanghai's 6,218 km2 (2,401 sq mi) land area is flat, apart from a few hills in the southwest corner, with an average elevation of 4 m (13 ft).

The Climate: Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate and experiences four seasons. In winter, cold winds can cause nighttime temperatures to drop below freezing, but usually only receives one or two days of snowfall per year. In contrast, and in spite of being the peak tourist season, summer in Shanghai is very warm and humid, with occasional downpours. The most pleasant seasons are Spring, although changeable, and Autumn, which is generally sunny and dry. Shanghai’s hottest temperature is at around 40 °C (104 °F), and the lowest at −12 °C (10 °F). The average number of rainy days is 112 per year, with the wettest month being June.

Population: About 20 million

Language: Mandarin and Shanghainese. English is often spoken in the business community but a translator is advisable especially for negotiations with suppliers or government officials.

Events: Shanghai hosts many international events throughout the year such as the ATP Tennis Master and Formula One and has several international five star hotels, exhibition halls, stadiums and concerts venues located throughout the city. Due to the upcoming EXPO in 2010 several new exciting event venues are being completed elevating Shanghai to one of the leading event destinations in the world.

Shanghai Skyline 1
Photograph by ZaNuDa

Shanghai Skyline 2

Shanghai Skyline 3

Shanghai Skyline 4

Shanghai Skyline 5