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Population of Shanghai

Shanghai is the most populous city in the world and the first in terms of area and also in the world, and not just in China or Southeast Asia. This is the main financial center and a mega-, or it would be more correct to call a giga-polis, conveniently located at the mouth of the Yanzi River, in eastern China. Known as the Pearl of the Orient, and why did you think the local landmark was named that way, and Oriental Paris, has more than 24 million people, which means that the population of Shanghai has already exceeded the population of neighboring Taiwan.

In fact, 2016 was the first year that the population did not increase, but decreased, by 04%. The average population density is 2,059 people per square kilometer, although this number rises to 3,854 in the city center.

The area of ​​Shanghai is 6340 square meters. km., mostly steppe, in some places hills in the southeast, but the maximum height is only 4 meters. Shanghai also boasts an extensive network of rivers, canals, lakes, all of which create excellent conditions for the development of the city. Shanghai has been one of the fastest growing cities in the world, doubling growth every year since 1992, except for the 2008-2009 global recession.

Demographics

According to 2010 data, 89.3% of the population of Shanghai, which is 20.6 million people, was urban, and rural occupies only 10.7%, equal to 2.5 million people. More than 39% of Shanghai's population are long-term migrants, a figure that has tripled in the past 10 years, migrants mainly from Anhui (29%), Jiangsu (16.8%), Henan (8.7%) and Sichuan (7.0%), of which almost 80% are from rural areas. It is thanks to migrants that the population of Shanghai has constantly increased, since the natural increase of Shanghai has been negative since 199 3 years.

As in most of China, the vast majority of the population of Shanghai are ethnic Han (98.8%), and only 1.2% belong to national minorities.

There are 150,000 foreigners officially registered in Shanghai, approximately 31,500 Japanese, 21,000 Americans and 20,700 Koreans. These figures are based on official data, most likely in reality there are much, much more foreigners.

Population growth in Shanghai

Although many believe that Shanghai has reached its peak in population, this is far from the truth. Along with Beijing, Shanghai's population is projected to reach 50 million by 2050, double the current population, thanks to rapid urbanization and strong economic growth.

We all remember the One Family, One Child policy that controlled the population. On the other hand, it has certainly contributed to a shrinking workforce and a rapidly aging population. Rural migrants have given Shanghai the growth it needs, and it is their children and their children's children who will keep the population growing in the coming years.

China is also testing new propiska reforms, the so-called hukou, that will encourage migrants to move to cities, hukou giving migrants the same benefits as natives.

Shanghai still has many demographic challenges to overcome, chief among which are gender imbalances, there are 113 boys for 100 girls, and an aging population that will be a heavy burden on the city and its growth potential in the future.

Shanghai is one of the four cities of central subordination in China, which means that Shanghai is not the capital of a province, one can say that it is a province itself.

Shanghai is one of the largest ... Then you can substitute an infinite number of terms: the largest city in China, one of the largest cities in the world (second only to Mexico City, although many believe that it is no longer inferior), the world's largest port, the largest and one of the world's leading financial centers in the world.

The area is 6,340.5 km² (for comparison, Moscow is 2,561.5 km²).

The population is 24,152,700 people according to 2015 data.

Population density - 7295 people / sq. km. (for comparison, in Moscow 4930.82 people/sq.km., in Hong Kong 6,732.56 people/sq.km.).

The first of the two hieroglyphs used to write the name of Shanghai has the meanings "on / above", "up", the second - "sea". Officially, it is believed that the first mention of Shanghai can be found in artifacts dating back to the Sun Dynasty (XI century).

As for the translation of the name of the city, here the opinions of sinologists differ, but the official Chinese historiography interprets it as "upper reaches of the sea", "seaside". Other opinions are also interesting, for example, some believe that "shanghai" is translated as "to enter the sea", that is, to go out to sea, which would be quite suitable for a port city. I would like to note that Shanghai cannot be literally translated as “on the sea”, since Chinese grammar would require a different sequence of words (hai shan), although some scholars believe that this was the original name of this city.

Based: 751
Square: 6,340.5 km2
Population: 24 152 700 people (2015)
Currency: yuan renminbi
Language: Chinese
Off.site: http://www.shanghai.gov.cn

Current time in Shanghai:
(UTC+8)

Shanghai is often poetically called "Oriental Paris", "Queen of the East", "Pearl of the East". Although Shanghai has a less dazzling reputation. So, for many, Shanghai is associated with disorder, chaos and vices. The city gained such popularity for rampant prostitution, murders and drug trafficking in the 1920s and 1930s.

How to get there

It is better to buy air tickets to Shanghai with a departure from Moscow. Flights are more frequent and tickets are cheaper. For those who do not like to fly with Aeroflot aircraft, it is possible to fly to Shanghai from St. Petersburg, Moscow and Yekaterinburg via Helsinki, a / c Finnair. Finnair flights to Shanghai every day. A ticket with a departure from St. Petersburg often costs even less than a direct flight from Helsinki.

From Moscow (Sheremetyevo Airport) every day Aeroflot flies to Shanghai (Pudong Airport) on Boeing 767 aircraft.

In addition to Aeroflot, China Eastern also flies to Shanghai from Moscow. Flights from Domodedovo airport. The following airlines also fly from Shanghai and to Shanghai: Emirates, Finnair, Qatar Airways, Swiss, Thai Airways International, Vladivostok Air. Naturally, with docking at the home airport.

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Do you know what success is? Success is not just a good deal or a bargain. Real success is when a small village, where the fishing industry was the most developed, turns into a world-famous large metropolis. This is a place where traditions and progress, history and science, work and entertainment are intertwined. All this is the city of Shanghai.

Shanghai - getting to know the financial center of China

The literal translation of the name from Chinese can be interpreted in two ways: “enter the sea” or “city on the sea”. Both options are natural and logical, since one of the largest seaports is located there. Of course, there are more romantic names. For example, Western representatives referred to Shanghai as "Oriental Paris" or "Pearl of the East". This is not surprising, since the number of high-end boutiques in this city per square kilometer is impressive. Shanghai is also one of the fashion capitals along with London, New York and Paris.

Where is

The geographical location of Shanghai is very interesting. If you look at the world map, it is located in eastern China in the Yangtze River Delta. But in China itself, it is considered a southern city. This is due to the fact that it is located a little south of the river itself. The Yangtze has a tributary called the Huangpu, which divides Shanghai into two parts. And in the east it is washed by the East China Sea.

Shanghai city map

A bit of history

The history of Shanghai is very interesting. You can write more than one book, describing the process of formation of this city. In the beginning, the area in which modern Shanghai is located was just a part of Songjiang County. Management was carried out by the government of Suzhou. Time passed, and thanks to the access to the sea, Shanghai became a seaport.

1553 is considered the year when Shanghai became a city. It was then that a fortress wall was erected around it. In the 19th century, trade with Western countries flourished in the city. It was a sin not to use the Yangtze River for these purposes. In 1842, Shanghai was opened to foreign trade as one of the treaty ports, which was documented in the Treaty of Nanjing between China and Great Britain.

In 1937 the city was captured by the Japanese. Here the government of the "Great Way" (puppet government) was established, which fully supported pro-Japanese sentiments. It lasted until the end of World War II. It should be noted that at that time Shanghai was almost the only city in the world that opened its doors to Jews. Unfortunately, this did not last long, and in 1941 special ghettos were nevertheless created. Since 1949, the city fell under the rule of the communists.

Until 1991, it was one of the most important industrial centers in China. After 1992, the city's leadership took a course to attract investment by reducing tax rates. And such a strategy has borne fruit, because the pace of economic growth in Shanghai is impressive to this day and is called the "Chinese economic miracle."

How to get there

The easiest way to get from world capitals to Shanghai is by plane. Let's look at a few examples:

• Ukraine. You can get to Shanghai by air with transfers from Kyiv, Dnipro, Odessa and Lvov. Direct air flights are almost non-existent, the average flight duration from Ukrainian cities is 14–30 hours, including transfer time. Ground modes of communication today are established irregularly and take about 6-7 days;
• Russia. Air communication offers both direct flights to Shanghai and with transfers. So, you can directly fly to China from Moscow (8 hours) and Vladivostok (3-4 hours). But from St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk, Kazan, Murmansk, Novosibirsk, Perm, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don, you can fly only with transfers in 9-30 hours. As for the railway connection, from Moscow you can get to Shanghai by train No. 3/4 Moscow - Beijing through Mongolia or No. 19/20 Moscow - Beijing through Manchuria. The price of a train is 2–3 times cheaper than an air ticket, however, it will take 5–6 days to travel;
• Belarus. You can fly to Shanghai from Minsk in 17-18 hours with transfers. Other types of ground and air communication in fact take place with a transfer in large cities of Russia and Ukraine;
• Kazakhstan. Indirect flights are available from Almaty, Astana, Karaganda with an average duration of 8-15 hours. There are no direct flights. By train, you can get from Kazakhstan to Shanghai through China or Russia, the journey takes 6-9 days.

Weather and climate

Humid subtropics- such a characteristic can be given to the climate of Shanghai, although some features of the monsoons are inherent in this territory. Regardless of the time of year, there is a lot of rainfall. Snowy winters and rainy summers bring enough water to grow crops around Shanghai. If you tolerate the heat well, then you should come to this city in the summer. The average temperature in the summer months here is about +32 °C. Although, due to the high humidity, which is created by numerous precipitations, it is quite stuffy here at this time. In winter, temperatures can drop to -10 °C. For those who love the golden mean, it is best to visit Shanghai in autumn. Dry and sunny weather will favor long walks.

Perhaps the only trouble that can be encountered here is typhoons. They can happen throughout the whole year, and it is quite difficult to predict them. But even in this case, you should not worry too much, because they do not cause serious damage to the city. In this case, the management simply decides to temporarily close airports for the safety of passengers.

Main attractions

The main attractions of Shanghai:

• "Pearl of the East"- TV tower with a height of 468 meters. Here everyone will find something interesting for themselves: viewing platforms with a glass floor, cafes, shops and elevators that lift visitors from the first to the last floor in a record short time - 40 seconds;

  
  
  TV tower "Pearl of the East"

• french quarter- before, the French really lived here, but now cozy restaurants and residential cottages in the shade of century-old plane trees provide an opportunity to take a break from the noise of the big city;

  
  
  

• - the largest open space in the city, designed for parades, festivals and concerts;

  
  
  

• - a place where you can plunge into history and culture, learn wisdom and admire the true beauty.

  
  
  

Naturally, all the sights cannot be listed. The diversity of the city is the reason why everyone will find something of their own here.

cultural objects

Cultural sites in Shanghai include a number of buildings:

• International Expo Center (SNIEC)- a huge exhibition complex, on the territory of which fairs, exhibitions, social and corporate events are constantly held. It is here that every year the largest automotive event in China takes place - the Shanghai Auto Show;

  
  

• Jin Mao skyscraper- 88 floors of luxury, beauty and comfort. Shops, malls, banks, restaurants, hotels, offices and entertainment centers. American architects successfully combined elements of traditional architecture and Gothic. It is here that the famous Grand Hyatt World’s Highest Hotel is located on the top 38 floors;

  
  

• car museum- five pavilions located on an area of ​​1.17 hectares. Each pavilion has a separate theme: history, technology, rare and vintage cars, cars of famous brands, the evolution of the automotive industry. And on the second floor there are forty vintage cars from Europe and the USA 1902-1977;

  
  

• shanghai terrarium- if you are not afraid of insects and reptiles, then you are here. On an area of ​​3 sq. km you can find more than 200 of their species. Butterflies, insects, eels, amphibians and reptiles are each in their own zone. In addition, here you can see how nectar or honey is collected. Most importantly, visitors can directly interact with the inhabitants of the terrarium. You can touch them, treat them, and if you become strongly attached to someone, you can buy it;

  
  
  

• Museum of Jewish Refugees- as is known from history, during the Second World War, Shanghai was the only capital that allowed 25,000 Jews to hide on its territory. You can touch those events in this museum.

  
  
  

Did you know? In this city there is an interesting phenomenon - the marriage market. This is a kind of offline dating site. In the central park, potential grooms, brides, their friends and relatives post announcements of acquaintances, as was once customary in our latitudes in newspaper sections.

sacred places

The current Temple of the Jade Buddha is not just a shrine, it is also very popular with tourists. The statue of the Sitting Buddha from this temple is known throughout the world for its height (about two meters) and beautiful inlay (gold and precious stones).

70 monks are constantly in the temple and keep order.

There are not so many rules, but visitors and tourists must strictly follow them:

1. At the entrance you need to change into disposable slippers (included in the ticket price).
2. Do not take pictures. But it must be admitted that this item is the most difficult to implement, so it is regularly violated.
3. Keep silence. In religious buildings of any denomination, silence is welcome and noise is prohibited.
4. Sobriety. It is unacceptable to come to the temple drunk (even a little bit). Buddhism condemns the use of alcohol.

By following these simple rules, visitors to the temple can feel peace and touch a piece of Chinese history and culture.

National parks and reservoirs

Shanghai is known for its natural areas.

• Yu Yuan Garden, Joy Garden. In the 16th century, the son of a court minister ordered this garden to be planted as a gift to his father. It took 18 years to create it, and in the 19th century, the colonial troops of England almost razed it to the ground. But China honors its history. Thanks to meticulous restoration in 1956, the garden became the way we see it now. Beautiful, albeit artificial hills, ponds in which goldfish swim, stone buildings, small bridges, bizarre arches - and all this against the backdrop of rare species of plants and trees. The only negative is the large number of visitors;

  
  
  

• "Park of the Century"- was created in 2000 next to world-famous skyscrapers. Lakes and canals, beautiful lawns and a mysterious forest, gazebos and cafes where you can relax while walking. A large number of flowers and trees makes it possible to hold international landscaping competitions;

  
  
  

• wild animal park- the first national park of wild animals, located 35 km from the center. On an area of ​​153 hectares, you can see about 10,000 species of animals, 200 of which are on the verge of extinction. Giant pandas, golden monkeys, South Chinese tigers, Asian elephants are just a tiny list of local residents. Only herbivores and birds are found in the safe walking area. And you can look at predators and large herbivores only when you are in a special bus. A perfect end to the walk will be a cup of coffee or tea in the company of pigeons in a local cafe;

  
  
  

• zoo- a place where people try to create conditions for animals as close to natural as possible. Here you will not see cramped cells. So we can say with full confidence that you will be satisfied with visiting this zoo.

  
  
  

Observation decks, towers, bridges

In addition to the "Pearl of the East", there are a large number of places in Shanghai that offer a beautiful view. Here are some of them:

• - for tourists, the monument itself is not particularly remarkable, but for the Chinese it is of particular importance. Still, it is worth a visit, because it offers a gorgeous view of the river;

  
  
  

• - wall with flowers on the background of concrete boxes. Part of the waterfront worth seeing;

  
  

• - Pagoda of the largest Buddhist temple. A beautiful piece of history;

  
  

• fangsheng bridge- located in Qingpu area. This is not only the longest, but also the highest bridge in Shanghai. Stone dragons that guard the pearls and lions will not leave anyone indifferent;

  
  

• garden bridge- The first steel bridge in China. There is room for cars, bicycles and pedestrians. And the night illumination will take you to a fairy tale;

  
  
  

• Puji Bridge- has been preserved since 1267. On the stone arch you can see scenes from the history of the city;

  
  Puji

• lujiazui bridge- relatively new, its opening took place in 2010. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it has the shape of a circle. Escalators and elevators deliver pedestrians to a height of 6 meters.

  
  
  

Gorgeous views and historical sites are not all that a traveler may be interested in Shanghai.

What else can a tourist do

If you are not a fan of museums and standard tourist spots, Shanghai has other activities to offer you. Do not forget that this is where the Formula 1 Grand Prix takes place. An unrealistic number of stores for every taste will easily satisfy even the most demanding shoppers. Cinemas, opera, theater - everyone will find entertainment to their liking.

Leisure

Active recreation in Shanghai is represented by a large number of entertainment centers, namely:

Also in Shanghai there are a lot of travel agencies and private guides who are ready to give you a tour of the city and the most secret back streets.

Night life

Nightlife in Shanghai is varied and unusual. The best nightclubs in the city, according to tourists, are:

• - stage for stand-up performances in Chinese and English, restaurant, bar;
• VUE Bar- a lounge, a quality bar and an incredibly beautiful view from the panoramic windows;
• Bar Rouge- a roof with a beautiful view, expensive interior and positioning;
• M1NT- dances, guest stars, selected audience;
• Jazz Club at the Peace Hotel- atmosphere, delicious cuisine and, of course, live jazz.

Nightclubs, restaurants, karaoke, discos and bars - you definitely won't be bored.

Where to stay

Nowadays, with the Internet on your phone, it's easy to find a place to sleep. But we propose to follow the rule: "Who owns the information - he owns the world." Let's look at the main options.

Hostels

• hostel - located near Suzhou Amusement Park and International Exhibition Center. The property offers luggage storage services and free Wi-Fi. The rooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay. And in the morning they offer an Asian-style breakfast;
• hostel Shanghai Meego Qingwen- one and a half kilometers from it is the Jin'an Temple. Each room at this hostel has air conditioning and a bathroom;
• hostel Shanghai Hidden Garden International Youth You can even stay here with your pet. There is a garden where you can organize a barbecue, a cozy library and a room with games for children.

In general, in Shanghai, the number of establishments for lodging and accommodation is large, which allows you to choose the perfect option according to your needs, opportunities and personal preferences.

Hotels

The most expensive and famous hotels in Shanghai are considered to be:

• Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li;
• Days Hotel Shanghai Hongkou Fortune;
• Four Seasons Hotel Pudong.

By choosing them, you are guaranteed to receive the highest quality of service and comfort. If you are limited in funds, then at your service hotels whose pricing policy will pleasantly surprise you:

• Shijia Hotel;
• Sun Valley 138 Rooms;
• Jinjiang Inn Fengshang Shanghai Beiwaitan Yangpu Bridge.

There are no special frills, but clean, comfortable and friendly staff.

Urban transport system and car rental

Shanghai's urban transportation system is large, convenient, and constantly evolving. There are two large international airports here. One of the fastest growing subways in the world, which includes 15 lines, one of them is surface. Stations are announced not only in Chinese, but also in English, which is very convenient for tourists.

If you are not a fan of the metro, there are 1100 active bus routes at your service. Special routes during rush hour, night and tourist buses, as well as special suburban lines.

Important! Please note that each metro line has its own work schedule, indicated on the website and inside the building directly. It is also worth knowing that the last trains leave the stations already at 22-23 hours.

20 ferry routes will take those who wish to many areas of the city by water. And by ship you can get to other cities, such as Wuhan, Chongqing and Jiujiang.

Even in Shanghai there is a high-speed tram and a high-speed magnetoplane train (on a magnetic cushion).

As for a taxi (both by car and by rickshaw), it costs a little more than public transport, you can catch it by voting on the streets.

If you are an experienced driver, you can easily rent a car by booking it in advance. You can also book a bicycle - this is a very common form of transport for China.

Where to eat and what you can try from the "exotic"

The Bund is the area with the best restaurants, although in Shanghai finding a place to eat is not a problem. Since the city is modern, it will not be difficult to find European cuisine here. But lovers of "exotic" should try "centenary eggs", rice noodles, hairy crab and red pork with spices.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that Shanghai cuisine is distinguished by the addition of a large amount of spices. In this regard, people who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract should be careful and cautious.

Communication and Wi-Fi

Internet in Shanghai, as in all of China, is, although it is somewhat limited. Europeans should remember that almost all Google, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp services do not work there. But there will be no problems with Yandex, Skype, VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Mail.ru and WeChat. Restaurants, hotels, airports almost everywhere have free Wi-Fi.

What to bring

Almost all tourist spots in Shanghai have souvenir shops, bazaars and shops.

Souvenirs with Chinese symbols, various paintings, beautiful antiques, products made from real bamboo and shells of varying complexity, Chinese pearls, dough souvenirs, woven straw products, Qipao women's dress, porcelain, Shanghai silk are in the greatest demand. The choice is great, and the prices are for every wallet.

It doesn't matter what you bring from Shanghai. The main thing is the impressions that you will never forget.

Faced with the choice of which Chinese city to visit first: Shanghai or Beijing, many tourists prefer Shanghai, the largest enclave city in the People's Republic of China by population.

Shanghai development history

The distance Moscow - Shanghai 6850 kilometers airplanes of direct flights overcome in less than 9 hours. Aeroflot Airlines operates direct flights from Moscow. Departures are carried out from Sheremetyevo airport.

The China Eastern company sends planes from the Domodedovo airport. From here there are indirect flights of Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa. The duration of connecting flights is increasing.

The cheapest tickets.

From St. Petersburg you can fly with Transaero flights, the cost is about 23,000 RUR.

Shanghai (China) has two airports, the main one being Pudong International Airport. The city can be reached using the maglev, an analogue of the Moscow Aeroexpress maglev train. The speed of the train is over 400 km/h. The fare with an air ticket is 40 CNY.

For those traveling from Beijing by rail, a high-speed train is recommended from the capital every 20 minutes. Travel time is 4 hours. The cost is about 600 CNY.

Interesting fact. In 15 years, Shanghaiers have built the longest subway network (434 kilometers).

Moving around the city is carried out in various ways:

• taxi is the most popular mode of transport, the calculation is carried out according to the meter, landing - 12 CNY, then every 1 km - 2 CNY, the nightly rate increases: + 30%;
• metro - fare is 3 CNY for the first 6 kilometers, 1 CNY for every subsequent 10 kilometers;
• transportation by trolleybuses, buses has a drawback: large traffic jams at rush hour;
• active lifestyle lovers rent bicycles (about 15 CNY for half a day).

Transport system

A visa is issued in two ways:

• by self-appeal to the consulate;
• through a travel agency.

Important! Russian tourists have the opportunity to apply for a special visa upon arrival at the airport. Its validity period is 72 hours. It allows you to move around the city, but forbids leaving it.

The total number of varieties of Chinese visas is 12. Tourist has category L, transit is designated G. To apply for visas L, G, a package of basic documents is required:

• international passport,
• completed application form,
• photo 35×45 mm,
• previous visas, if any;
• copies of passport pages.

The cost of a visa must be specified (1500 RUR - 3000 RUR).

Shanghai is located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, China's longest river, on the western shore of the East China Sea, in the middle of the coastline. The city is a link between the inner regions of China and the outside world, a meeting place for Eastern and Western cultures.

After the reforms that began in the 1990s, great architectural changes have taken place and continue to take place constantly. The municipal government is making efforts to create a modern metropolis, an economic, financial, commercial and shipping center by 2020.

An area of ​​6,340.5 square kilometers is occupied by 24.26 million permanent residents.

The port of Shanghai maintains a connection with 23 ports of the world, continues to open up for foreign investment, trade relations. The mainland of the port and Yangshan are connected by the longest sea bridge on the planet - Donghai (32.5 km). Despite the fact that the bridge is located low above the water, the movable structures make it possible for large vessels to pass. The largest span has a length of 420 m. The bridge is able to withstand a typhoon with a force of 12 points.

Shanghai weather, time and money

Time in Shanghai differs from Moscow by 5 hours. Time zone +8 GMT.

Humid subtropical climate determines the characteristics of the weather in Shanghai. There is a clear division of the 4 seasons:

• winters with little snow, daytime temperatures are 6–8°C above zero, sub-zero temperatures are recorded at night;
• spring is fleeting, comfortable air temperature is about + 19 ° С (April);
• summer is hot, stuffy, heavy rains are frequent, + 32 ° С;
• autumn - very favorable for travel, dry, sunny, about + 16 ° С.

Cash national currency yuan (CNY) is accepted everywhere. Currency exchange is carried out by banks, exchange offices, shopping centers. International airports provide the most favorable exchange rates. 1 yuan is equal to 10 jiao or 100 fen.

Skyscrapers of Shanghai

The modern Pudong area is famous for its skyscrapers. According to statistics, the city has more than 80 buildings above 170 meters. Among them, the height of 45 exceeds 200 meters.

The TV tower in Shanghai "Pearl of the Orient" of the Pudong district is recognized as one of the symbols of the metropolis. It is the sixth tallest tower in the world and the third tallest in China (468 meters). Surrounded by the Yangpu Bridge to the northeast and the Nanpu Bridge to the southwest, she creates a painting: Twin Dragons Playing with Pearls. The architectural design is unique: the base rests on three seven-meter-wide oblique supports. There are eleven steel balls around, which are "strung" vertically. Visitors travel up and down the tower in elevators that can hold up to fifty people at a speed of seven meters per second.

The Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) (August 28, 2008), China's second tallest skyscraper, is located in the heart of the financial and commercial district of Lujiazui (Pudong). It has 101 floors with a height of 492 meters (about 1,614 feet). The unofficial name of the building is "opener" due to the external similarity with the object.

The Shanghai Tower (2015) is the third in the world ranking (632 meters). It houses offices of companies, trade organizations, entertainment venues, and a luxury hotel. The structure has underground facilities, where parking spaces and approaches to metro stations are provided.

Jin Mao is a symbol of the entry of the largest city of China into the modern era, which is a stylized pagoda. The top 38 of the 88 floors (the number 8 is considered lucky for China) is occupied by the prestigious Grand Hyatt World’s Highest Hotel.

Sights of Shanghai

To see a large number of attractions, tourists will need a lot of time and effort. The following are the most popular among travelers.

Garden of Joy Yuyuan

The garden was built by a treasurer named Pan Yunduan (1577). Translation from Chinese means "pleasure, satisfaction." This garden was specially built for parents to enjoy the peaceful, happy time of their old age.

Over the 400 years of its existence, Yu-Yuan has undergone many changes. After a significant restoration, it was opened to the public in September 1961.

Pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds, monasteries, located in 6 main areas, have unique characteristics.

Interesting fact. There are two old trees in front of Wanhua. One maidenhair tree that is 21 meters (about 70 feet) high. It is believed that the tree was planted by the owner of the garden 400 years ago.

Yu-Yuan's true treasure is the exquisite Jade Stone located across the street from Yuhua Hall. It is one of the three famous rocks of the Southern Yangtze River region. The height of the rock is 3.3 meters (about 10.8 feet). The stone has 72 holes. If you pour water from above, it will flow out of each hole, creating a spectacular spectacle.

Jade Buddha Temple

The western part of the city territory is decorated with the Temple of the Jade Buddha. The seated Buddha and the reclining Buddha are carved from white jade. Crystal clear white jade gives holiness to the sculptures. The height of the seated Buddha is 190 centimeters, the statue is inlaid with agate and emerald, depicts the Buddha during his meditation and enlightenment. The length of the reclining Buddha is 96 centimeters. Lying on his right side, supporting his head with his right hand, and placing his left hand on his left leg, the Buddha assumes a pose of rest.

waterfront waitan

The Bund, also called Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, is located on the famous waterfront. It has also been considered the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. The Bund is located on the west bank of the Huangpu River from the Waibaidu Bridge to the Nanpu Bridge. The most famous and attractive view of the business district opens from the western part of the Bund. There are 26 different buildings of various architectural styles, including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism, Renaissance.

Lujiazui Pedestrian Bridge

An architectural creation of an unusual round shape, the Lujiazui Bridge has a height of 6 meters, equipped with escalators and elevators. Here is the Shanghai Stock Exchange, many business offices, cafes, shops.

Huangpu River Night Tour

A cruise along Huangpu, which divides the city into two parts: Pudong and Puxi, can last from 30 minutes to 3.5 hours. The tour is historical in nature, as along with modern architecture, buildings that embody the traditional shikumen style are observed.

It is impossible not to visit the numerous markets, which are a paradise for shopaholics.

Interesting fact. The People's Park provides an area on weekends for the operation of the "Marriage Market", where elderly parents look for their other half for their children.

According to the reviews of numerous tourists, the largest Chinese metropolis strikes the imagination of even a sophisticated traveler.

Shanghai- the largest city in China and one of the largest cities in the world, located in the Yangtze River Delta. It is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Tianjin and one of the four cities of the central government. The population of the urban agglomeration is 18,884,600 people (2008).

The city stands on the banks of the Yangtze River and its tributary Huangpu. Huangpu divides it into two parts - the historical center of Puxi ("west of the river") and Pudong ("east of the river").

Shanghai is the meeting point of east and west. This is the most radical city in China. As soon as they didn’t call Shanghai at one time: the Paris of the East, the Chinese Whore, the Queen of the East, the city of adventurers, gamblers, sailors, opium dealers and opium addicts, the city of child prostitution and slave child labor, the city of socialists, communists and revolutionaries of all stripes, the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, the cradle of the Revolution and the birthplace of the Shanghai Commune.

Like many other regions in China, Shanghai is experiencing a construction boom. The modern architecture of Shanghai is distinguished by its unique style - in particular, the upper floors of some high-rise buildings, occupied by restaurants, are shaped like flying saucers.

Most of the buildings under construction in Shanghai today are high-rise residential buildings, varying in height, color and design. Organizations responsible for planning the development of the city are now increasingly focusing on the creation of green spaces and parks within residential complexes to improve the quality of life of Shanghainese people.

Climate

Weather in Shanghai is represented by four seasons. Temperatures sometimes drop below freezing in winter, with an average temperature of 32°C in July and August. Historical minimum and maximum temperatures are −10 °C and +41 °C, respectively.

It usually rains at the beginning of summer. The seasons in Shanghai correspond almost exactly to the calendar. In spring, the weather is very changeable, precipitation is frequent with frequent temperature changes. Summer is the peak tourist season, but at this time it is very stuffy in Shanghai due to high humidity. Autumn in Shanghai is usually sunny and dry, with leaf fall in November. Winter in Shanghai is snowy and rainy.

During the year, several typhoons can hit the city, but typhoons in recent years have not caused serious damage, although they have led to temporary airport closures and minor damage to the city's facilities.

Population

The population of the Shanghai metropolitan area is 18,884,600 (2008).

The majority of the population speaks the Shanghai dialect of Chinese. There are also dialect differences within Shanghainese, however, as a rule, they are extremely minor and do not affect mutual understanding. The scope of Shanghainese is limited to oral communication, and the official language is the standard dialect of Mandarin Chinese (the official language of the PRC).

Foreign language proficiency also varies by age group, with older native Shanghainese who were educated before the revolution as well as young people under the age of 26 who have been learning English from elementary school at their best.

A very small proportion of today's population of Shanghai are the descendants of the inhabitants of the old city, once surrounded by a fortified wall. The ancestors of almost all of today's Shanghainese immigrated to Shanghai from the neighboring provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Recently, there has been an influx of a new wave of immigrants to Shanghai from all over China. It is with this influx of migrants that Shanghainese associate the increase in crime, compulsive begging and congestion of infrastructure (mainly public transport and schools), and this creates additional tension in society. Shanghainese easily identify visitors, and the latter are often the object of discrimination, intentional and unintentional. All this leads to further misunderstanding and reinforces stereotypes in the minds of Shanghainese and Chinese outside the lower Yangtze.

Transport and communications

Shanghai has a modern transportation system and, unlike many other major cities in China, the city's streets are kept clean and its air quality is superior to that of many other major cities. At the same time, compared to other world cities, air pollution in Shanghai is quite significant.

The public transport system in Shanghai is developing rapidly: there are more than 1,000 bus lines in Shanghai, the Shanghai Metro already has 5 lines, and, according to plans, by 2010 it is planned to commission 8 more lines.

Shanghai has the oldest trolleybus system in China and in the world of the currently operating ones: the Shanghai trolleybus was launched on November 15, 1914, while in the rest of the world the oldest trolleybus systems operating to this day are Philadelphia (1923), and in other Chinese cities trolleybuses appeared in the sixties and eighties.

Shanghai is served by two airports: Hongqiao Airport and Pudong International Airport, whose combined passenger traffic is second only to Hong Kong Airport in China.

Since 2002 Shanghai operates the world's first commercial maglev line. She, as well as the train moving along it, was built by the German engineers of the Transrapid company. The line holds the speed record in real operation with passengers - 430 km/h. It connects the city with Pudong Airport and covers a distance of 30 km in 7 minutes. 21 sec. Until 2010, the line is planned to be extended to Hongqiao Airport and further southwest to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, after which it will be 175 km long.

As of December 2004, Shanghai Port, which includes the new Yangshan Deep Water Port, is the largest in the world.

Three railways connect in Shanghai: the Jinghu (Beijing-Shanghai) railway passing through Nanjing, the Huhan line connecting Shanghai and Hangzhou, and the Xiaoyong line between Xiaoshan and Ningbo. There are three train stations in Shanghai: Shanghai Station, Shanghai West Station and Shanghai South Station.

Expressways include the Jinghu Expressway (Beijing-Shanghai) as well as a network of modern freeways around the city. A 36-kilometer bridge was built that connects Shanghai with the Ningbo industrial zone and has become the longest sea bridge in the world. Construction completed in 2008. There are also ambitious plans to build a highway from the urban area to Chungming Island.

Inside the city, many streets are duplicated by overpasses intersecting at different levels, internal and external ring roads have been built. Puxi and Pudong are connected by several tunnels and bridges.

Attractions

waterfront waitan- is the most famous tourist area in Shanghai. The waterfront area is located north of the old city of Shanghai, once surrounded by a stone wall. There are dozens of European colonial buildings here, which once housed numerous banks and trading companies from Great Britain, France, the USA, Russia, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the consulates of Great Britain and Russia. The one and a half kilometer stretch of the waterfront is home to 52 buildings of various architectural styles, such as Classicism, Gothic, Neoclassicism, Baroque, Beaux-Arts (Bozar) and Art Deco (Shanghai is one of the richest collections of Art Deco buildings in the world), which is why the Bund is often called the "Museum of World Architecture".

Pudong area(Pudong) - makes a sharp and colorful contrast to Puxi - the old part of Shanghai, located west of Huangpu. Located opposite the Bund - a pedestrian underwater tunnel leads to it. From the open observation deck of the Oriental Pearl TV tower, built in the same place, offers a stunning view of the city. On the ground floor of the tower is a very original and interesting Puppet Museum of Shanghai History.

shanghai museum- Museum of Ancient Chinese Art in Shanghai. Founded in 1952. The museum has collected about 120 thousand items of storage. The most valuable are the collections of bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, furniture, jade figurines, ancient coins, paintings, prints and sculptures. 11 galleries and 3 special exhibition halls are constantly operating.

Longhuasa Temple(Lónghúa sì) is the most famous and largest (over 20,000 sq. m.) Buddhist temple in Shanghai.

Yuyuan garden(Garden of Joy)- a classic example of the park architecture of southern China, which is characterized by the desire to recreate in small forms all the diversity and quirkiness of the southern Chinese nature. The architectural design of the park is so original that, having an area of ​​only 2 hectares, it seems quite large. The park is divided by five "dragon walls" into six integral architectural complexes.

Gui Park- on its territory there is a beautiful bamboo grove.

hongkou park(Hongkou Gongyuan) - located in northern Shanghai. As a tourist attraction, it is famous for the tomb of the writer Lu Xun (Lu Xun), 1881-1936, the founder of modern Chinese literature, scholar and teacher. He was not a communist, but most of his books were banned by the Kuomintang regime and he hid in the French Quarter.

Jade Buddha Temple(Yufo Si) - was built in 1911 - 1918 and is famous, first of all, for two figures of Buddha, carved from whole pieces of white jade. One figure of the Buddha is carved in a sitting position (height 1.9 m), the other depicts the Buddha, who has reached the state of nirvana. Adjacent to the garden is a bazaar that has more than a hundred shops and stalls selling all kinds of souvenirs with Chinese symbols, paintings, antiques, bamboo and shell products.

french quarter(Faguo Zujie) is located on Huaihai Zhonglu Road. This territory was formerly occupied by the French concession. They worked as tailors, driving instructors, bodyguards, and set up numerous cafes around Huaihai.

Sun Yat Sen House Museum, the first president of China, is located on Xianshan Road.

People's Square- the center of cultural and political life of Shanghai. Tourists can admire the musical fountain "Light of the Huangpu River", groups of reliefs reflecting the history of the city, "Xuzhi" and "Mingyue" squares. The building of the city government, the Shanghai Museum, the Shanghai Theater and other symbolic buildings of Shanghai are concentrated on the square.

Nankinlu street(Nanjing Donglu) is China's shopping Eldorado, you can find almost everything here. Until 1949, the most prestigious restaurants, shops, and nightclubs stood on Nankinlu. As for stores, this is still the case. It's nice to walk along Nanjing in the evening! Bright shop windows and sparkling neon lights... Sometimes you can see hairdressers and beauty salons in shop windows: Shanghai has always been famous in China for its hairdressers.

TV tower "Pearl of the East" is the highest TV tower in Asia (468 m) and the third in the world, it is called the "Pearl of the East". The TV tower consists of eleven pearls (metal balls) of different sizes; at its base there is a stone slab. Such architecture conveys a line from ancient Chinese poetry: "Large and small pearls fall on a jade dish." On each of the three balls in the upper part of the TV tower there is an observation deck, the highest level to which the high-speed elevator rises is 360 meters. The view from the observation deck allows you to see Shanghai from a bird's eye view and allows you to fully enjoy this modern and unique city. On each level of the tower there are walking galleries and shops where tourists can buy souvenirs from their visit to Shanghai. Inside the ball, at 267 meters, is a revolving restaurant, the only revolving restaurant in Asia at this height.

Xujiahui Cathedral (Saint Ignatius Cathedral) - the largest Catholic church in Shanghai.

People's Square(People's Square) - located in the center of Shanghai and is the largest public square in Shanghai, the building of the city government, the Shanghai Museum, the Shanghai Theater and other symbolic buildings of Shanghai are concentrated here. The square is the political and cultural center of Shanghai.

Jinmao(Jinmao Tower) is an 88-storey skyscraper located in the Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone of Shanghai's Pudong District, its height is 420.5 meters. Now it is the tallest skyscraper in China and the fourth tallest skyscraper in the world. Jinmao is an architectural building symbolizing Shanghai's entry into the 21st century. The Jinmao building has the highest class infrastructure (banks, shops, hotels and cultural recreation).

Story

Before becoming a city, Shanghai was part of Songjiang County under the administration of Suzhou Prefecture. Since the Song Dynasty, Shanghai has gradually become a busy seaport and has outgrown its administrative status (today Songjiang is just one of the districts of Shanghai).

In 1553, the construction of the fortress wall marked the emergence of Shanghai as a city. However, until the 19th century Shanghai was not a large population center, and unlike other cities in China, it has few historical attractions.

In the 19th century Shanghai's role changed dramatically as the city's strategic position at the mouth of the Yangtze River made it an ideal place to trade with the West.

During the First Opium War in the first half of the 19th century. for some time Shanghai was held by British troops. The war ended in 1842 with the signing of the Treaty of Nanjing, according to which a number of treaty ports, including Shanghai, were opened for foreign trade. According to the "Additional Protocol" of 1843 and the Sino-American Wanxia Treaty of 1844, the Western powers received extraterritorial rights, which actually became invalid by the end of the 1930s, but were officially canceled only in 1943.

During the Taiping Rebellion in 1853, Shanghai was captured by a triad called the Society of Small Swords, which had spun off from the rebels. During the fighting, the rural part of Shanghai was destroyed, but the foreign settlements were not affected, and the Chinese sought to get into them in search of shelter. Prior to this, the Chinese were forbidden to settle in these areas, but this restriction was lifted in 1854, after which the price of land in them increased significantly.

1854 also saw the first annual meeting of the Shanghai Municipal Council, whose task was to administer foreign concessions.

In 1863, the Settlements of Great Britain and the United States, located on the west bank of the Huangpu, respectively, on the southern and northern sides of the Suzhou River, united to form the International Settlement. France abstained from participating in the municipal council, maintaining the independent status of the French concession, which was located west of the International Settlement.

Sino-Japanese War 1894-1895 for control of Korea ended with the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, after which Japan joined the ranks of foreign powers in Shanghai. The Japanese built the first factories in Shanghai, their example was soon followed by other countries, thus laying the foundation for the development of Shanghai industry.

Shanghai gradually became the largest financial center of the Far East. During the reign of the republican government in 1927, Shanghai received the status of a special city, and in May 1930 - a city of central subordination.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, on January 28, 1932, the Japanese Navy bombarded Shanghai, the stated purpose of which was to pacify student protests against the Mukden Incident and the subsequent Japanese occupation of Manchuria.

In 1937, the Japanese army takes Shanghai with battles and establishes a puppet government there, the city remains in the hands of the invaders until the very surrender of Japan in 1945.

During World War II, Shanghai became a haven for refugees from Europe. It was the only city in the world that was unconditionally open at that time to Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

However, under pressure from the German Axis allies, in late 1941 the Japanese imprisoned the Jewish immigrants of Shanghai in ghettos, where infectious diseases such as dysentery began to spread.

On May 27, 1949, the Kuomintang troops surrendered Shanghai to the communists, after which, within ten years, most of the cities of central subordination were included in neighboring provinces, but Shanghai and Beijing retained this status. During this decade, Shanghai's borders changed several times.

After the Communists took over the city, the offices of most foreign firms were moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong. However, the development of the city continued, and during the 1950s and 1960s, Shanghai became an important industrial center as well as a base for the CCP's left. Despite this, even in the darkest and most turbulent years of the Cultural Revolution, Shanghai managed to maintain a high level of industrial production and relative social stability.

For most of the PRC's history, Shanghai has been the largest source of tax revenue compared to other provinces and cities. This seriously affected the development of urban infrastructure and capital construction.

The importance of Shanghai for fiscal stability also meant that Shanghai was not allowed to begin economic liberalization in the mid-1980s, as was done in the southern province of Guangdong (during this period, the central treasury received virtually no taxes from Guangdong and was therefore considered fiscally acceptable for pilot reforms). Shanghai received permission to start reforms only in 1991.

Beginning in 1992, the central government, led by former Shanghai Mayor Jiang Zemin, began to gradually cut taxes in Shanghai to attract foreign and domestic investment, with the ultimate goal of making Shanghai one of the economic centers of East Asia and strengthening its role as a gateway for foreign investment in China. Since then, Shanghai's economy has grown at a rate of 9-15% per year, the fastest among other regions of China.