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About Shanghai

Located on the estuary of the Yangtze River, Shanghai is the focal point of China. It is the largest city in China and the eighth largest one of the world. It is spread over an area of 2,239 square miles. Being the industrial hub of China, Shanghai is the largest financial and commercial center of the nation.

Shanghai has been China's foremost international city since its origins in the mid 19th century. Known as the "Paris of the Orient", by the 1920s it was the third largest financial centre in the world. It was also the birthplace of "China modern"--the first motor car, the first feature film and the first Qipao (Cheongsam, one of the most typical and traditional costumes for Chinese women) all appeared in Shanghai.

Shanghai is one of the highly popular tourist destinations of the world. The city is famous for its prosperity, transportation facilities and the seamless melding of western and eastern cultures. The unique facets of this glamorous city annually attract millions of visitors from throughout China and across the globe.

Shanghai History

Unlike many cities in China with long and varied histories, Shanghai's history is quite short. The British opened a concession in Shanghai after the first Opium War and ignited Shanghai's evolution. Once a small fishing village on the edge of the muddy Huang Pu River, it has become one of the world's most modern and sophisticated cities.

1842: The British establish a concession by forced treaty with the Qing Dynasty after China loses the first Opium War. Concessions were governed by the occupying country and were untouchable by Chinese law. The French, Americans and Japanese soon followed the British in establishing territories in Shanghai.

 

1930s: Shanghai has since become the most important port in Asia and the world's largest trading and banking firms have set up house along the Bund. Tea, silk and porcelain sail to Europe and America and opium comes in to pay for it. Shanghai is the most modern city in Asia - the Astor House Hotel has the first electric light bulb – but also the most licentious as opium dens, whorehouses and the ease of escaping the law abound. No visas or passports are required at the port and Shanghai soon becomes infamous as an exotic port of call.

 

1931-1941: Shanghai becomes a haven for Jews fleeing Nazi terror. As other countries closed their doors to immigrants in the lead up to the Second World War, over 20,000 Jewish refugees found asylum in Shanghai.

 

1937: Japanese bombs hit Shanghai and the foreigners evacuate en masse. Japanese control Shanghai and much of China's eastern coast until their defeat at the hands of the Allied Powers in 1945.

 

1943: The Allied governments abandon Shanghai during the War and sign their territories over to Chiang Kai-Shek and the Kuomintang government. The foreign concession era officially ends.

 

1949: Most foreigners have left Shanghai and the Chinese Communist state takes control of the city and the formerly privately-held businesses. Industry suffers until 1976 under the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) as hundreds of thousands of Shanghainese locals are sent to work in rural areas throughout China.

 

1976: The advent of Deng Xiaopeng's open door policy allowed a commercial revival to take place in Shanghai.

 

Present: Shanghai is growing into one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Asia with increasingly modern infrastructure and services. It is China's second largest city (after Chongqing) with a population of over 17 million. Dynamic and innovative, Shanghai is helping to drive China's developing economy.

Shanghai Transportation

Getting Around in Shanghai

By Bus

By Taxi

By Subway

By Bus
The bus system in Shanghai is probably the cheapest and most convenient way to get around the city. The bus lines in the downtown area, crisscross Shanghai like a spider web, but don't expect to get anywhere in a hurry by buses in Shanghai. Some buses have conductors but others only have money boxes in the front of the bus with no change given. For visitors on a brief tour of the city, there is a sightseeing Bus Center located under the No. 5 Staircase at Gate 12 of the Shanghai Stadium. The sightseeing bus lines run to many sites located on the outskirts of the city. Shanghai also has new air-conditioned buses, special line buses, medium buses and double deck buses which have different rates depending on the type of bus. An average bus costs 1RMB, while an air conditioned bus costs 2 RMB.
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By Taxis
As in other large cities, Shanghai has taxis roaming the city and they are available 24 hours a day. Visitors can take a taxi from virtually anywhere, and it is the most common means of transportation to get around Shanghai. Taxi is the speediest form of transportation in the city, except during rush hour. Rush hour in Shanghai is from about 7:30 to 9:00AM, and then again in the evening from about 4:45-6:30PM. During regular hours, the first 5 kilometers (or 3 miles) are 10.8 RMB and 1.6 RMB per km (0.6 mile) after that. After 11:00pm, prices are 12.6 RMB for the first 5 kilometers. It is possible to get lower rates during rush hours.

Travel Tips: All visitors to Shanghai are recommended to take one of your hotel's business cards. You will have directions back to the hotel. If you get lost, you just need to hand it to the taxi driver and you can get back without a problem.
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By Subway
There are five subway lines which have connections all over the city of Shanghai, and have stops at or nearby all of the main attractions and commercial areas. Except during rush hour, the subway is the fastest and most comfortable way for visitors to get around Shanghai. The subway trains are very clean, and their stations and exits are clearly labeled in English and Chinese. The base fare is 3 RMB.

Travel Tips: For visitors who plan to stay in Shanghai for a long period of time, it would be wise to buy a rechargeable Shanghai Public Transportation Card which could be used to pay for subway, bus, ferry, and taxi rides. The card can be purchased in the Shanghai's subway stations.

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Shanghai Maps

 

Shanghai China Map

Shanghai City Map