About Shanghai

Shanghai , or translated "City on the Sea", is situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, is the largest city of the People's Republic of China and the eighth largest in the world.

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 . Colorful festivities, like Shanghai Tourism Festival and Shanghai China International Art Festival, have attracted an increasing number of tourists from home and overseas.

Huangpu River

Huangpu River , the most important shipping artery of Shanghai , wriggles like an undulating muddy dragon from the mouth of the Yangtze River in Wusong to the East China Sea . The yellow and ice-free Huangpu River is 114 kilometers (71 miles) long, 400 meters (0.25 miles) wide and has an average depth of nine meters (30 feet).

Huangpu River joins 29 kilometers (18 miles) north of downtown Shanghai and divides Shanghai into two parts, east and west. Cruises are available everyday, including the shorter cruises (navigating the main waterfront area between the Yangpu Bridge and the Nanpu Bridge ) and the complete cruises (meandering eastward along the golden waterway, over a distance of 60 kilometers or 37 miles). Whether it is in the daytime or at night, the views along the river are the same beautiful. The great modern skyscrapers and the characteristic buildings in different architectural styles are the best records of the development of the city and the Huangpu River , the birthplace of Shanghai , is the faithful eyewitness.

The Bund, also called the Zhongshan Road , is a famous waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. It starts from the Baidu Bridge , which is at the connecting point of the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek, to the East Jinling Road and winds a 1500 meters (less than one mile) length. Walking along the Bund, which is at the west shore of the Huangpu River , the Oriental Pearl TV Tower can be seen on the opposite side and also the Jin Mao Tower . Being one of the Top Ten Shanghai Attractions, the Bund is a really beautiful and special place which is worth visiting. The newly-built Flood Control Bank takes the function of preventing the oversize flood; the square with the statue of Marshal Chen Yi is an open air podium which gives new views of the Shanghai Plaza Culture; the Cenotaph which stands on the man-made island is a monument of people's heroes; the riverside greenbelt, the Electronic Waterfall Bell, and the Great Mural Carving are all representatives of the Bund.

The most famous and attractive sight which is at the west side of the Bund are the 52 various buildings of different architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the Renaissance. The Bund was the centre of Shanghai 's politics, economy and culture hundreds of years ago, consulates of most countries and many banks, businesses and newspaper offices were settled there, and that's why we have these art-like buildings. Although they were not designed by the same person or built in the same period, the architectural pattern is similar.

Location and Climate

Shanghai 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.

Shanghai has a pleasant climate, with four distinct seasons: warm spring, hot summer, cool autumn and cold winter. Shanghai enjoys the subtropical marine monsoon climate. The annual average temperature is around 16 o C, among which the highest temperature appears in July and August when the monthly average temperature is about 28 o C, and the lowest temperature in January when the monthly average temperature is 4 o C. The annual precipitation is approximately 1100 mm . Without bitter cold winter and sweltering hot summer, Shanghai is suitable for traveling all seasons in a year, of which spring and summer are the best traveling seasons.

Shanghai receives abundant rainfall and the average annual precipitation is over 1000 cm . The "Plum Flower Rain" season (frequent light rain) is from mid-June to early July with an average daily rainfall of 259 mm . During July and September, strong storms with torrential rain become frequent. However, it seldom snows in Shanghai .

All in all, it is best to go prepared with light clothing in summer and warm, heavy clothing in winter. Also, always prepare for rain by keeping an umbrella, but most hotels can equip you with one if needed!

 

Shanghai Weather
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Ave. Highs	7.6	8.7	12.6	18.5	23.2	27.8	31.8	31.6	27.4	22.4	16.8	10.7
Ave. Lows	0.3	1.1	4.9	10.4	15.3	20.1	24.7	24.7	20.5	14.3	8.6	2.7