Shanghai is located on the coast of the East China Sea beside the estuary of the Yangtze River. It is the largest metropolis in China and a famous cosmopolitan city in the world. It is China’s largest port, as well as an important center of finance and commerce.
It has a sub-tropical maritime monsoon climate with warm springs, hot summers, cool autumns and chilly winters. Yearly rainfall is moderate, with the Meiyu period (rainy season) in June and July and a typhoon season in August and September.
It is a city with a rich historical and cultural heritage. In 1843, it became a concession territory for many countries. From that time on, the city rapidly developed into the most prosperous one in Asia, earning the nickname “Glamorous Shanghai”.
Modem Shanghai has seen incredibly rapid growth, with the Lujiazui Financial & Trade Area and Shanghai Free Trade Zone, in particular, seeing the most dynamic economic development in China. In Lujiazui, one can see the many skyscrapers, such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower and the World Financial Center, which are now famous sightseeing destinations. In 2010, Shanghai successfully hosted the World Expo bringing new attention to locations such as the Palace of Chinese Culture & Art, now an important feature of Shanghai’s cultural landscape.
Area & Population
About 6,340 square kilometers
By the end of 2012, the permanent population was 23.80 million.
Administrative Divisions
Shanghai comprises 16 municipal districts and 1 county, and the City Hall is located in Huangpu District.