Shanghai abbreviated to "Hu" is situated at the delta of the Yangtze River, guarding the gateway of the Yangtze River in the north, facing the sea in the east and bordering Hangzhou Bay in the south. It is China's biggest city and also the biggest seaport as well as the major center of economy, sciences and technology and culture.
Shanghai, a municipality directly under the Central Government, is one of the largest commercial city and economic centre of China. It's a coastal opening city as well as a famous historic and cultural one. Situated 31.4 degrees north latitude and 121.29 degrees east longitude, Shanghai lies in the middle of China's mainland coastline, and Yangtze River's entrance to the sea. Covering an area of 6,341 square km. and with a population of more than 13.5 million, it is the largest city in China and one of the five super cities of the world. Shanghai is also one of ten world's largest seaports.

Shanghai is endowed with favourable geographical and natural conditions. It has a Well-developed commodity economy and comparatively high scientific and technological level. As the biggest industrial centre in China, Shanghai ranks first in the value of its industrial production, as compared with other Chinese cities. Its main industry includes metallurgy, chemicals, petroleum, machinery, automobiles, electronics, shipbuilding, light industry, textiles, electrical appliances, and other industries, which hold an important position in Chins. Shanghai is the chief producer of industrial goods, and a major export base in China as well.
As the most prosperous business center in China, Shanghai leads all the others in both social commodity's total volume of retail sales and export value. In recent years, it has made rapid progress in finance and banking service, and stands only next to Beijing, as one of the main financial centres in China.
Shanghai is an important hub of communications. It has an easy access to the outside world by all means of transport: ocean, offshore and inland water shipping, high way and railroad transport, air flights etc. As the biggest seaport in China, the port of Shanghai has trade links with ports of over 100 countries and regions. Efforts are being made to develop Shanghai into a modern international economic, financial and trade centre.

The Pudong Development Area in Shanghai is an important special economic zone in China. The level of the new area's industry, commerce, finance, trade, post and telecommunications stands at the forefront in China. More than 130 buildings there are higher than a hundred metres.

History
Although the downtown area was no more than a fishing village as recently as in the mid-19th century, Shanghai as an administrative region has a history much longer than that. It began as Huating County, an administrative district established in 751 AD in the south-western suburbs of the city. In 991 AD, the township of Shanghai was set up within the county. In the 14 years between 1260 and 1274, the town evolved into an important trade hub and in 1292, the central government approved the establishment of Shanghai County, which has been widely deemed as the official beginning of the City of Shanghai.While it can't match the epic history of Beijing or Xi'an's grander sights, Shanghai is the epitome of modern China and a cosmopolitan city featuring architectural temples of art, fine dining and contemporary urban living.

City Flower: White Magnolia
The white magnolia is one of the few spring flowers commonly grown in the Shanghai area. It usually comes into full blossom in early April. The flower has large, white petals that usually open up towards the sky. This feature makes it a perfect symbol of the pioneering and enterprising spirit of the people of Shanghai.

City Emblem:
The emblem of the city was selected in 1990. It is composed of the images of a white magnolia flower, a local-style sail boat and a propeller. The propeller symbolises the continuous progress of the city. The white magnolia is the city flower. The historical sail boat, which used to ply the busy waters of the port of Shanghai, is a token of history. Together with the propeller, it brings out the rich connection between the history of the city and its waters.

Language
The vernacular language is Shanghainese, a dialect of Wu Chinese; while the official language is Standard Mandarin. The local dialect is mutually unintelligible with Mandarin, and is an inseparable part of the Shanghainese identity. The Shanghainese dialect today is a mixture of standard Wu Chinese as spoken in Suzhou, with the dialects of Ningbo and other nearby regions whose peoples have migrated to Shanghai in large numbers since the 20th Century.
Nearly all Shanghainese under the age of 40 can speak Mandarin fluently. Fluency in foreign languages is unevenly distributed. Most senior residents who received a university education before the revolution, and those who worked in foreign enterprises, can speak English. Those under the age of 26 have had contact with English since primary school, as English is taught as a mandatory course starting at Grade 1.

Cimate
Shanghai experiences all four seasons, with freezing temperatures during the winter season and a 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) average high during the hottest months of July and August. Temperatures extremes of -10C (14F) and +41C (105F) have been recorded. Heavy rain is frequent in early summer. Spring starts in March, summer in June, autumn in September and winter in December. The weather in spring, although considered the most beautiful season, is highly variable, with frequent rain and alternating spells of warmth and cold. Summer is the peak tourist season, but is hot and oppressive, as the humidity makes it almost impossible for people not used to the environment to breathe properly. Clothes tend to get fairly wet after minutes of walking. Autumn is generally sunny and dry, and the foliage season is in November. Winters are typically grey and dreary, with little or no snowfall. The city has a few Typhoon spells during the year, none of which in recent years have caused considerable damage.

Chinatravel365 tips：Key Figures:
 GDP (2007): US$1.2 trillion                          No.of sister cities around the world: 66 
 No.of foreign consulates in Shanghai: 55     No.of institutes of higher learning: 60