WELCOME TO SHANGHAI

Shanghai is located in the east coast of China, at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Shanghai is the most populous city in China, because it is one of the largest urban areas in the world, the city is administered as a municipality with province-level. The city has a population of over 20 million people.



Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate and experiences four distinct seasons. In winter, cold northerly winds can cause nighttime temperatures to drop below freezing, and although not usually associated with snow. In contrast, and in spite of being the peak tourist season, summer in Shanghai is very warm and humid, with occasional downpours or freak thunderstorms. The city is also susceptible to typhoons, none of which in recent years has caused considerable damage. The most pleasant seasons are Spring, although changeable, and Autumn, which is generally sunny and dry. Shanghai experiences on average 1,778 hours of sunshine per year, with the hottest temperature ever recorded at 39 °C (102 °F), and the lowest at −5 °C (23 °F). The average number of rainy days is 112 per year, with the wettest month being June. The average frost-free period is 276 days.



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 ground to a sharp halt after the 1949 Communist takeover and the subsequent cessation of foreign investment. After being allowed economic reforms in 1990, Shanghai is booming once more with intense development and financing, and in 2005 became the world's largest port.

Shanghai has a rich collection of buildings and structures of various architectural styles. The Bund, located by the bank of the Huangpu River, contains a rich collection of early 20th century architecture, ranging in style from neo-classical HSBC Building to the art deco Sassoon House. A number of areas in the former foreign concessions are also well preserved, and despite rampant redevelopment, the old city still retains some buildings of a traditional style, including Yuyuan Garden, a traditional garden in the Jiangnan style. One uniquely Shanghainese cultural element is the shikumen residences, which are two or three-story townhouses, with the front yard protected by a high brick wall. In addition, the distinctive Oriental Pearl Tower at 468 metres, is located nearby in downtown Shanghai. Its lower sphere is now available for living quarters, starting at very high prices.



In addition, Shanghai has hosted a number of world events, including the 2007 Summer Special Olympics and a Live Earth concert. The city will be the host of the Expo 2010 World’s Fair between May and October 2010. Shanghai is also home to a number of professional sports teams, including Shanghai Shenhua of the Chinese Football Association Super League, the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association, and the Shanghai Eagles of the Chinese Baseball League. The city has also hosted the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit every year since 2004.



Today, Shanghai serves as one of the nation's most important commercial, financial, industrial and communications centers, and is widely regarded as a future global city and as the showpiece of the world's fastest-growing economy.



The Bund at night

Although often viewed as a modern metropolis,
Shanghai still contains some picturesque rural suburban areas.

from: Siew Chung