The Paris Of The East Shanghai
Shanghai, Hu for short, also known as Shen, is a multi-cultural metropolis with both modern and traditional chinese features. The city has a status equivalent to a province, and reports directly to the central government. Serving as the largest base of Chinese industrial technology, one of the most important seaports and China’s largest commercial and financial center, Shanghai draws the attention of the whole world.
Shanghai is situated at 31°41′ north latitude and 121°29′ east longitude. The city, whose name literally means “on the sea”, is located on the east China coast just to the south of the mouth of the Yangtze river. Bordering on Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces on the west, Shanghai is washed by the east China sea on the east and Hangzhou Bay on the south. It also occupies a central location along China’s coastline. Thanks to its advantageous geographic location, Shanghai is an excellent sea and river port, boasting easy access to the vast hinterland.
Except for a few hills lying in the southwest corner, most parts of the Shanghai area are flat and belong to the alluvial plain of the Yangtze River delta. The average sea level elevation is about 4 meters.
The city covers an area of 6,340.5 square kilometers, which extends about 120 kilometers in north and south and nearly 100 kilometers in east and west. Shanghai has an urban area of 2,643 square kilometers, land area of 6,219 square kilometers and water area of 122 square kilometers. The city’s Chongming Island is the third largest island in China, covering an area of 1,041 square kilometers. Check out zip codes for different areas of Shanghai.
Design of the city emblem of Shanghai was approved by the standing committee of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress in 1990. The triangle emblem consists of a white magnolia flower, a large junk and a propeller. The propeller symbolizes the continuous advancement of the city; the large junk, one of the oldest vessels plying Shanghai’s harbor, represents the long history and bright future of the port; and the large junk is set against a white magnolia flower blossoming in the early spring.
Shanghai is an international city that melts with different cultures from all over the world; we call it Shanghai Regional Culture. Shanghai Culture is original from Traditional Chinese Culture and melted with the Wu and Yue Dynasty Culture, and with a deep affected by Western Culture. Shanghai created a new regional culture, with its unique characteristic, it feather in absorb culture from all over the world, good at abandon and pursuit excellent and innovation. The basic characteristic of this culture are more opening, creative and diversity.
Broadly, central Shanghai is divided into two areas: Pudong (east of the Huangpu River) and Puxi (west of the Huangpu river). On the east side of the Huangpu River is Pudong, a special economic zone of banks, skyscrapers and new residential compounds. The bund lies on the historic Puxi side of the Huangpu River and looks across to the new skyline of Pudong business district.
West of the old town and hidden in the backstreets north and south of Huaihai Road (Shanghai’s premier shopping street) is the Former French Concession, with tree-lined streets, 1930s architecture, cafes and bars. At its western end is a major collection of western-style restaurants and bars. Continuing southeast is Xujiahui with its massive shopping intersection. Farther south is Shanghai stadium.
Western shanghai is dominated by Hongqiao, a zone of hotels, conference centers, and business offices. Farther west is Gubei, an expat area. Northeastern Shanghai has an industrial feel and is home to several universities. Further northwest is Zhabei and Shanghai Train Station. Street names are given in Pinyin, which makes navigating easy, and many of the streets are named after cities and provinces in China.
