Shanghai, sometimes called 'Paris of the Orient', is China's commercial and financial centre. Its modern, international and fashionable reputation entice travelers and visitors from all over the world, who come to delight in its shopping heavens and wide variety of entertainment or simply to experience the glitz of China's most cosmopolitan city.

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, an open city on the coast and a famous historical and cultural city, 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.

The Bund , Yu Yuan (and Old Town), Nanjing Road , Shanghai Museum , Huangpu River Cruise , Oriental Pearl TV , Jade Buddha Temple , Xin Tian Di of Shanghai          more about  Shanghai Attractions

  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. By the end of 2002, there were 40 international travel services, 524 domestic travel services and 300 star-rated hotels with about 50,000 rooms. 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.

 Pudong International Airport , Hongqiao Airport the Transrapid maglev train   ，By train ，By Ship     more about  Shanghai Transportation:

  Shanghai Railway Station dispatches everyday 80 pairs of trains back and forth from Shanghai. There are the Shanghai-Nanjing, Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo Freeways. The Pudong International Airport has opened for traffic. Its 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 neighbouring tourist areas, they will render faster service and more convenience in urban communications to tourists. Recently, the magnetic buoyant train has been opened to the public. It offers travelers a zero height of flight at 430 km/hr. On Dec. 3, 2002, Shanghai succeeded in winning the bid for the sponsorship of World Expo 2010. The world has given China a share of luck and Shanghai will add more splendor to the world Shanghai is ushering in excellent opportunities for development. People of Shanghai warmly welcome visitors from home and overseas.

 Shanghai has much influence on China's history for several hundred years. From textual research we have found that 5,000 years ago during the period of the Songze culture, Shanghai already took the shape of a plain in the Changjiang River Delta. Our ancestors had lift their footprints here. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Shanghai belonged to the Wu State. During the the Period of the Warring States, Shanghai first belonged to the Yue State and then to the Chu State. King Lie of the Chu State appointed Huang Xie as his prime minister and bestowed him the title of Lord Chunshen.Shanghai was part of his feoff. The other name of Shanghai "Shen" was derived from this.

   Shanghai has another name "Hu", which came from "hudu".In ancient times, the fishermen is Shanghai invented a bamboo fishing device called "hu", ("Du" in Chinese means "creek".) This area was called "Hu Du" before it became known as Shanghai. The name "Shanghai" actually came into being during the Song Dynasty, when Shanghai was then becoming a new rising trading port. There were then in Shanghai 18 creeks, one of which was called Shanghai Creek, a section of the Huangpu River from the Bund to Shiliupu. On its western bank was a Shanghai Town; the name "Shanghai" was derived from this. During the Yuan Dynasty, Shanghai Town had greatyly developed and set up a shippin administration. Later on,the town was promoted to a county, which consisted of today's urban areas, Shanghai, Qingpu, Nanhui and Chuansha Counties. By the Ming Dynasty, Shanghai had already become China's largest textile center and business was developing fast. In the 24 th year of Qing Emperor Kngxi's reign (1685), the Qing government set up in Shanghai the customs. During the reigns of Qing Emperor Qianlong and Jiaqing, Shanghai gradually became China/s major trading port and water transportation center for grains. It was then known as "A place accessible by sea and rivers; a capital in the southeast".

    In 1843, after the Opium War, Shanghai was forced to become an open port by the colonialists, In 1845, Britain first set up its concession in Shanghai. In 1848, the United States set up its concession, the followed by France in 1849. In 1863, the British and American concessions amalgamated into the Chinese Section, the International Settlement and the French Concession. In the 100 years since 1943, Shanghai had become an important port for the foreign colonialists to dump their goods, ravaged raw materials and money. Shanghai was thus known as "A Paradise of the Adventurers". On July 7,1927, Shanghai was proclaimed as a special municipality. In 1945, after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, the concessions were reclaimed. On May 27, 1949, Shanghai was really liberated. Through the continual and long-term reform and construction by the successive municipal governments and the people, Shanghai has become an important industrial and commercial base in new China. In the 20 years of reform and opening to the outside world (1978-1998), especially after Deng Xiaoping, the chief designer of our reform and opening policy, made his speech on his inspection tour of the south, Shanghai has been developing and changing with every passing day and has become China's center of economy, science and technology, information and culture, an international modernized metropolis. Shanghai, also called in short in Chinese "Hu" or "Shen", situated at 31.14 degrees north latitude and 121.29 degrees east longitude, in the middle of China's east coastline, is a gate to the Changjiang River valley. Bordering on Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces on the west, Shanghai is washed by the East China Sea on the east and Hangzhou Bay on the south. North of the city, the Yangtze River pours into the East China sea. Topographic Features Except for a few hills lying in the southwest corner, most parts of the Shanghai area are flat and belong to the alluvial plain of the Yangtze River Delta. The average sea level elevation is about four metres. Shanghai covers an area of 6,340.5 square kilometres, 0.06% of China's total territory, consisting of 19 districts and 1counties, of which the city proper occupies an area of 2,642.6 square kilometres .

    It extends about 120 kilometres in north and south and nearly 100 kilometres in east and west. Shanghai has a land area of 6,219 square kilometres and water area of 122 square kilometres. The city's Chongming Island is the third largest island in China, covering an area of 1,041 square kilometres. Dotted with many rivers and lakes, the Shanghai area is known for its rich water resources. Most of the rivers are tributaries of the Huangpu River. Originated from the Taihu Lake, the 113-kilometre-long Huangpu River winds through the downtown area of the city. The river is about 300 to 770 metres wide with an average width standing at 360 metres. The ice-free Huangpu River is the main waterway in the Shanghai area. With a pleasant northern subtropical maritime monsoon climate, Shanghai enjoys four distinct seasons, generous sunshine and abundant rainfall.

     Its spring and autumn are relatively short compared with summer and winter. The average annual temperature is 16 degrees Celsius. The city has a frost-free period lasting up to 230 days a year, and receives and average annual rainfall of 1,200 millimetres . However, nearly 60% of the precipitation comes during the May-September flood season, which is divided into three rainy periods, namely, the Spring Rains, the Plum Rains and the autumn Rains. Shanghai is located in the south of the lowest reaches of the Yangtze River, and its customs have much in common with those of other places in that area. Ever since Shanghai was opened as a port for foreign trade, its water communication gradually became busy.

Shanghai City Tour Destinations
Shanghai is a metropolis of tourism, and a paradise for adventurers. In Shanghai, you can experience the new, the old, and everything else in between. You will find architecture built in different time periods, and built with different styles from around the world. Much of the old international settlements, european style buildings, and French Concession areas can still be seen. You will also see a city full of sky scrappers, and modern architecture.

The Oriental TV Tower is the modern symbol of Shanghai. Located on the western bank of Huangpu River, the Shanghai Bund is lined with all types of European style buildings. Shanghai Museum is a treasure house of thousands of ancient Chinese art and relics such as pottery, paintings, and calligraphies. Built in 1882, the Jade Buddha Temple is one of the most famous temples in Shanghai. The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is famous for its 115 meter long under water viewing gallery.

These and so much more, make Shanghai a vibrant and exciting city. Great food, fantastic scenery, friendly people, and interesting tour destinations make Shanghai a fun and energetic metropolis that you must visit

This amazing metropolis is a historically and culturally rich city with plenty of tourism resources and no visitor to Shanghai has ever been disappointed. With connections to airports from around the globe and connections to all of the major cities in China, Shanghai is the perfect location to begin a tour of the amazing country that is China.

        The life expectancy of Shanghai residents has already reached the level of economically developed countries in the world.  In 2002, the average life expectancy of the population stood at 79.52 years, 77.36for men and 81.65 years for women, up 6.67 and 6.87 years, respectively, from the 1978 figures. Today, the life expectancy of Shanghai residents is higher than the world's average and that of middle-income countries and reaches the level of major economically-developed countries in the world. By the end of 1997, the city's urban green area totalled 7,848.96 hectares, including 2,483.65 hectares of public green area, 9.3 times more than that of 1978. The average per capita green area among the urban residents was 2.3 square metres, 1.83 square metres more than in 1978. About 17.8% of the city's urban area was covered by trees and grass, 9.6 percentage points higher than the 1978 figure. Meanwhile, the proportion of urban households using cooking gas had catapulted from 38.7% in 1978 to above 90% in 1997. Housing conditions have been improving continuously.

   During the 1978-1997 period, Shanghai had built apartment buildings and houses with a total floor space of 110 million square metres, with 67.8637 million square metres being completed during the 1991-1997 period. As a result, the average per capita living space among local urban residents expanded from 4.5 square metres in 1978 to 9 square metres in 1997. And The living environment of the local residents keeps improving very fast rencent years. By the end of 1997, the average per capita green area among the urban residents was 9.16 square metres, 32.1% of the city was covered by trees and grass. Shanghai has gradually become one of the country’s cultural and artistic centres. Cultural and artistic pursuits are flourishing. The city has encouraged creation and production of cultured art and outstanding performances. In 1999, the city staged a total of 10,4000 performances attracting audiences of over 5 million. The city also successfully held a series of large-scale cultural activities such as the inaugural China, Shanghai International Art Festival in the year, the Fourth Shanghai International Film Festival and the first international program trade festival. The City Emblem Design of the city emblem of Shanghai was approved by the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress in 1990. The triangle emblem consists of a white magnolia flower, a large junk and a propeller.

  The propeller symbolizes the continuous advancement of the city; the large junk, one of the oldest vessels plying Shanghai's harbour, represents the long history and bright future of the port; and the large junk is set against a white magnolia flower blossoming in the early spring. The City Flower In 1986, the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress passed a resolution adopting the white magnolia as the city flower. The white magnolia is among the few spring flowers in the Shanghai area. It is in full blossom in early spring and before the Clear and Bright Festival, which usually falls on April 5. The flower has large, white petals and its eye always looks towards the sky. Therefore, the flower symbolizes the pioneering and enterprising spirit of the city. Shanghai is a big melting pot with a population largely made up of migrants. This has led to the development of the city's colourful culture. Shanghai boasts a large number of celebrated artists and performing troupes. It has two radio stations, four television stations, four film studios and several film making sites. Many world-class musicians and artists have come to perform in Shanghai.

Shanghai, as a most open and liveliest city, is also the paradise for entertainment. The city exudes its magnetic air everywhere with its traditional traits mixed with a dense modern breath. The local and popular opera at the common theaters, the symphony and ballet performances in the large theaters, the shining neon lights along the wide streets at night, the jazz music in the top restaurants and the Chinese classical music in the typical southern China garden, Yuyuan Garden, the discotheques and the all-night cinemas truly excite the senses if you let them. The city is also engulfed in colorful festivals almost every month of the year, such as the impressive bell-striking on Chinese New Year's Eve and temple fair in the Lunar March in the famous Longhua Temple. The city's many other festivals include flower, tea, fashion, music, film, tourism, magic, TV, health, marathon, art exposition, etc.

   The city regularly hosts international TV, film and art festivals. These events have drawn many domestic and overseas participants and brought an abundance of high-quality programmes to Shanghai audiences. Other popular festivals include the Huangpu Tourism Festival, the Xuhui Osmanthus Festival, the Nanhui Peach Blossom Festival, the Fengxian Kite-flying Festival and the Zhabei Tea Festival. Outdoor concerts and performances at the Bund and other public areas have also composed unique scenes in the city's cultural life. Fuzhou Road, known as Shanghai's "Cultural Street",has more than 100 bookstores and publishing firms. Expo 2010 will be held in Shanghai, China and is a scheduled World Expo in the grand tradition of international fairs and expositions. The theme of the exposition will be "Better City–Better Life" and signifies Shanghai's new status in the 21st century as a major economic and cultural center. It is expected to generate the largest number of visitors in the history of the world's fairs in terms of gross numbers. The Expo will take place from May 1 – October 31, 2010.

     The mascot of 2010 Shanghai World Expo is Haibao. World Expo 2010 Shanghai China will also be a great international gathering; the exposition will strive to attract the participants of 200 countries and international organizations and 70 million visitors from home and abroad. The history will record this World Expo because of its widest participation. Besides, Shanghai will take global eyesight to prepare and organize this exposition all the time, gather the wisdom of the whole world, try the best to gain understanding and support from various countries and people. Expo 2010 Shanghai China will centre on innovation and interaction. Innovation is the soul, while cultural interaction is an important mission of the World Expositions. In the new era, Expo 2010 Shanghai China will contribute to human-centred development, scientific and technological innovation, cultural diversity and win-win cooperation for a better future, thus composing a melody with the key notes of highlighting innovation and interaction in the new century. Currently many sites of participated countries have been built. Diversities of Expo sites featured by the vivid styles of different countries for sure will guarantee the success of Shanghai 2010 World Expo.Special Coverage of Shanghai World Expo in 2010. 

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