Search results
Shanghai is located on the Yangtze Estuary of China's east coast, with the Yangtze River to the north and Hangzhou Bay to the south, with the East China Sea to the east. The land is formed by the Yangtze's natural deposition and modern land reclamation projects.
Shanghai, China's largest and most prosperous city, exudes an atmosphere of self-confidence and vitality. For those reasons alone it's worth a visit. Unlike places featuring ancient, imperial, or scenic attractions, Shanghai has its own unique and spectacular range of more-modern highlights. Below are the top things you should do in Shanghai. 1.
- China’s Largest City. Shanghai is certainly not the largest city in China for its geographical area, but ranks China’s largest city in terms of the population.
- A World Financial Center. With the implementation of the reform and open-up policy, Shanghai firstly became a core port for domestic and international export and import, which contributes to the fast develop of local economy, and attracts foreign companies to establish commercial cooperation with Shanghai.
- A Multi-cultural Metropolis of History and Modernity. In terms of cultural and historical facts about Shanghai, the colonial past makes it unique from other cities in China.
- 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit is Implemented in Shanghai. 144-hour Visa-free transit is implemented in Shanghai for foreign citizens from 53 countries, including Canada, Brazil, Denmark, France, UK, USA, Italy, Japan, Poland, etc.
- Overview
- City site
- Climate
- City layout
Shanghai, city and province-level shi (municipality), east-central China. It is one of the world’s largest seaports and a major industrial and commercial centre of China.
The city is located on the coast of the East China Sea between the mouth of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) to the north and the bay of Hangzhou to the south. The municipality’s area includes the city itself, surrounding suburbs, and an agricultural hinterland. Shanghai is China’s most-populous city, and the municipality is its most-populous urban area.
Shanghai municipality is bordered by Jiangsu province to the north and west and Zhejiang province to the southwest. It includes the 18 districts constituting the city of Shanghai and several islands in the mouth of the Yangtze and offshore to the southeast in the East China Sea. The largest island, Chongming, has an area of 489 square miles (1,267 square km) and extends more than 50 miles (80 km) upstream from the mouth of the Yangtze; it and the islands of Changxing and Hengsha administratively comprise a county under Shanghai municipality.
Britannica Quiz
All About Asia
The mainland portion of the city lies on an almost level deltaic plain with an average elevation of 10 to 16 feet (3 to 5 metres) above sea level. It is crisscrossed by an intricate network of canals and waterways that connect the municipality with the Lake Tai region just to the west.
The city’s maritime location fosters a mild climate characterized by minimal seasonal contrast. The average annual temperature is about 61 °F (16 °C); the July maximum averages about 80 °F (27 °C), and the average January minimum is about 37 °F (3 °C). About 45 inches (1,140 mm) of precipitation fall annually, with the heaviest rainfall in June and the lightest in December.
Exclusive academic rate for students! Save 67% on Britannica Premium.
As China’s main industrial centre, Shanghai has serious air, water, and noise pollution. Industrial relocation and construction in the suburbs since the 1950s initially helped alleviate central city air pollution, although high population density and mixed industrial-residential land use continued to cause problems. The Suzhou River (the lower reach of Wusong River) and the Huangpu River (a tributary of the Yangtze), which flow through the city, are severely polluted from industrial discharges, domestic sewage, and ships’ wastes; nonetheless, the Huangpu is Shanghai’s main water source. Environmental protection and urban cleanliness are enhanced by industrial and solid waste resource-recovery operations run by a municipal corporation. More than 1,000 different materials are recycled, including plastic, chemical fibre and residues, machine components, oil and grease, rags, human hair, and animal bones.
The municipality radiates toward the north, west, and south from the confluence of the Suzhou and Huangpu rivers. Surrounding the central core is a transitional zone on both banks of the Huangpu, which encompasses a partially rural area of about 160 square miles. The banks of the Suzhou River, an important inland waterway connection to the interior hinterland, are occupied by a westward arterial extension of the transitional zone. To the south, however, the transitional zone terminates abruptly a few miles south of the central Shanghai urban core, at the Huangpu.
- Baruch Boxer
Learn about Shanghai's history, culture, and attractions with China Highlights. Find the best time to visit, how to plan a trip, and top tours to book online.
Things to Do in Shanghai, China: See Tripadvisor's 644,363 traveler reviews and photos of Shanghai tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in July. We have reviews of the best places to see in Shanghai.
Explore the best sights and activities in Shanghai, from historic gardens and temples to modern skyscrapers and museums. Find out what to do, where to go and how to get there in this comprehensive guide.
tripadvisor.com has been visited by 1M+ users in the past month
Find the best tours, tickets, trips & more. Compare prices and book online on Tripadvisor. Full refund available up to 24 hours before your tour date. Quick & easy purchase process.
Make the Most of Your Trip & Book Today. See Reviews for Over 300,000 Things to Do. Use Reserve Now & Pay Later to Secure the Activities You Don't Want to Miss. Book Now!
agoda.com has been visited by 1M+ users in the past month
SH Shanghai China Hotels Deal. Book SH Shanghai Hotel & Save!
