Shanghai Overview

Shanghai, also named "Hu" or "Shen" in short, is situated at 31"14" north latitude and 121"29" east longitude, and in the middle of China‘s east coastline. It occupies a total area of 6,341sq.km. (of which Pudong new Area occupies 523sq.km.), with a total resident population of 16,000,000. It has a pleasant climate, with four distinct seasons. The average temperature is around 18oC and the annual precipitation is 1,240mm.

Shanghai is a gate to the Yangtze River delta. It is a municipality under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government, the largest economic and trade center, a comprehensive industrial base and the leading port in China.

Shanghai is well known in the world not only for its prosperous cosmopolitan feature but also for its rich humanistic resources. In recent years, a number of modem buildings have been added to the city, such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Library, Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Circus City, Shanghai City-Planning Exhibition Hall and Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai Science & Technology Museum. They have become new scenic sights in Shanghai. Colorful festivities, like Shanghai Tourism Festival and Shanghai China International Art Festival, have attracted an increasing number of tourists from home and overseas.

Shanghai’s tourist infrastructure is getting more and more accomplished. Shanghai is an ideal "paradise for shoppers". There are commercial streets and shopping areas like the famous Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall, Huaihai Road, Sichuan Bei Road, Yuyuan Commercial and Tourist Area, the Ever Bright Commercial City, Xujiahui Commercial City and Zhangyang Road Commercial City in Pudong. There, shops stand rows upon rows with large collections of beautiful commodities, meeting the needs of tourists of different levels. Shanghai is also the paradise for gourmets. There are over a thousand restaurants serving the 16 different styles of food in China, such as the Beijing, Sichuan, Guangdong, Yangzhou, Fujian, etc. There are Western restaurants serving French, Russian, Italian, English, German, Japanese and Indian food and also Muslim and vegetarian food. In Shanghai, one can have a taste of all the delicacies in the world. Shanghai is well developed in communications by land, water and air. There are over 40 Chinese and foreign air companies opening about 300 air routes dispatching from Shanghai. Shanghai Railway Station dispatches everyday 80 pairs of trains back and forth from Shanghai. The Pudong International Airport’s annual passenger transport volume will be 20,000,000 person/times. Plus that of the Hongqiao International Airport, it will be 30,000,000 person/times. Subways No.1 and 2 and the light-rail first phase project are in operation. Together with the 10 special tour bus lines connecting Shanghai with neighboring tourist areas, they will render faster service and more convenience in urban communications to tourists. Recently, the Maglev Train from Pudong International Airport to the city has been opened to the public. It offers travelers a zero height of flight at 430 km/hr.

Shanghai History

According to historical records, Shanghai was the habitat for human being 6000 years ago.

Since Han dynasty, the connection between Shanghai and the central plain area was enhanced. Later in Tang and Song dynasty, with the development of Jiangnan area, the economy in Shanghai developed fast. In 751 AD, Huating County was set up. Huatinghai, on the northeast of Huating County, was the location of current urban district of Shanghai.

In Song dynasty, Shanghai Town was established. Thanks to the frequent commercial activities, Shanghai became a prosperous trade port.

Then in Yuan dynasty, Shanghai Town was the first important town in Huanting County; hence, the government separated five towns from Huating County and renamed them as Shanghai County.

After the cancellation of the ban on maritime trade in Qing dynasty, Shanghai was unprecedentedly developed. At that time, Shanghai opened both domestic and international routes.

In 1840, the Opium War broke out and the British army invaded and occupied Shanghai, Nanjing and so on. Then Shanghai became one of the earliest foreign trading ports. From 1920s to 1930s, the modern industry took shape in Shanghai. After years of development, Shanghai gradually became an important base of the modern industry in China.

In Anti-Japanese War Period, Shanghai was occupied by Japan and was forced to be an isolated island. Due to the brutal plunder of the army, Shanghai had been destroyed heavily.

In 1949, Shanghai was liberated and recovered day by day. Nowadays, Shanghai is one of the most prosperous cities in China and also a national excellent tourist city. The charming Shanghai is ready to welcome friends all over the world!

Shanghai has the typical semitropical oceanic monsoon climate featured by moist and moderate weather. It has plenty of sunshine and rainfall. Most of the rainfall concentrates on three rainy seasons: the spring rain period, the plum rain season and the autumn rain period. Shanghai has four distinct seasons. The hottest months are July and August, when there will be around 10 days with a temperature at above 35 ℃. The coldest time is from the late January to the beginning of February. Although it hardly snows, the weather is cold and damp. Generally speaking, spring and autumn are two nice seasons for traveling in Shanghai.  

Shanghai Climate

Shanghai is the largest and most prosperous city in China, and it is even a fast and modern metropolis in the whole world. Located in the joint region of Yangtze River and the eastern coastline, Shanghai enjoys convenient land as well as water transportations. The transportation network in Shanghai consists of two international airports, two railway stations and several long distance bus stations and passenger terminals, which connects Shanghai with many cities in and out of China.

Shanghai has been famed as "the Shopping Paradise" and "the Oriental Paris' in history. Visitors come to Shanghai with a purpose of appreciating the beautiful urban scenery, as well as shopping in its various kinds of shops and stores. Nanjing Road, China's No.1 Commercial Street is a must for all visitors; Huaihai Road, an elegant and cultural commercial street, attracts thousands of young people who search for the latest fashion trends; and Sichuan Road, a popular commercial street, is specially favored by the working classes. In addition, the modern Xujiahui Commercial Town, the traditional Yu Yuan Bazaar, and the Kerry Ever Bright City near the exit of the Shanghai Railroad Station are all prime locations for avid shoppers. The shopping tour in Shanghai has become an important part of the city’s urban style tourism.