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At a Glance
Shanghai is divided into two parts by the Huangpu River: Puxi (west of the Huangpu River) and Pudong (east of the Huangpu River). Puxi is the older part of the city and hosts the majority shops, restaurants and museums. Pudong is the new financial district, and is recognized for its unusual extremely impressive high-rises such as Shanghai's tallest building, the Jinmao Tower. Shanghai 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. The official Chinese currency is yuan, or RMB.
Population
Shanghai's population of over 15 million representing 1.1% of China's total. The average population density in the city stands at 2,093 people per square kilometer, but the figure is 2,363 in the urban area. It is a large and crowded city but you can easily find open space for recreation.
Climate
With pleasant northern subtropical climate, Shanghai enjoys four distinct seasons, generous sunshine and abundant rainfall. Compared with the summer and winter, its spring and autumn relatively short. The average annual temperature is 16 degrees and the non-frost season lasts as long as 230 days a year. It receives an average annual rainfall of 1,200 milimeters. However, nearly 60% of the precipitation comes during May-September which is divided into three rainy periods, namely, the Spring Rains, the Pulm Rains and the Autumn Rains.
Interesting Place
Shanghai is well known not only for its prosperous cosmopolitan feature but also its rich humanistic resources. There are three main tourist areas in the central Huangpu District. Huangpu River sightseeing area is a must-see during your Shanghai trip. It includes the Huangpu River, the Bund, Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower. The area around People's Square is highly recommended. Shanghai Grand Theater, Shanghai Museum and Shanghai Art Museum are all located here. Yuyuan area is also worth a visit. It comprises Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Old Street and the Confucian Temple. 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.
On December 3, 2002, Shanghai succeeded in winning the bid for the sponsorship of World Expo 2010. People of Shanghai warmly welcome visitors from home and overseas.
Accommodation
Shanghai's real estate price are high and comparable to just about any developed city in the world. The rent for a small one-bedroom apartment would usually range from RMB 1600 to 2500 depending on the area it's in, and at the top end there are period houses with monthly rents quoted in US Dollars. If you are only here for a short while, there are plenty of hostels around, starting from about 60 RMB per night for a single room.
Street Shopping and Entertainment
Shanghai has become a shopping paradise for visitors mainly because of its reputed streets: Nanjing Road, the country's No. 1 Commercial Street, Huaihai Road, a street of world-famous brands and latest fashions to attract customers from all over the world, and Xujiahui, a shopping center gathering clothes, shoes, food, cosmetics, digital products and entertainment centers.
The city will never be lacking in cultural entertainment. Shanghai is a mixed bag of the trendy and the traditional. Nightlife is varied and extensive, with different entertainment facilities to suit the tastes of residents of all ages and interests. While it is usually quite expensive to drink in high-end bars in XinTianDi, Hengshan Road etc., a handful of places do offer affordable drinks. Acrobatic displays and circus acts are popular. the incredible strength and flexibility of these performers enthralls and entertains their audiences, even the most doubting.
Cuisine and Eating Out
As an international city, Shanghai offers all kinds of cuisines from around the world. Of course, the majority of restaurants offer Chinese food at reasonable prices. There are Eight Major Chinese Cuisines: Sichuan, Zhejiang, hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Fujian, Cantonese and Anhui. Interestingly Shanghai Cuisine, also known as Ben Bang, is not one of the Eight Major. Give it a try, you may enjoy it but foreigners often complain that it's to sweet an oily. There are certainly many better gastric options available.
Eating foreign food for every meal like McDonald's could blow your food budget to 100 RMB per day or up, depending on what and where you eat. For those on a budget, cheap eats like beef noodles (niurou lamian) can be found for about 5 RMB a bowl, and lamb shish kebabs (yangrou chuan) at 2 RMB each. For an easier culinary experience, you could try a foodcourt. There are several Megabite foodcourts dotted around Shanghai's landscape, including one in Raffles City on Wulumuqi Road. Prices are usuallu in the range of 20 of 30 RMB for a generous portion. Plastics models of the available dishes greet you upon entering, so ordering is just a case of pointing. Just remember to pay before you enter the foodcourt -- food is purchased via a prepaid card, and the remaining balance can be redeemed after your meal. For those looking for something a bit fancier, swanky places abound. Just check out some of the local magazines like 8 Days or City Weekend for details.
Public Safety
Shanghai may be one of the safest cities in the world. But, you should still pay enough attention to your wallet, briefcase or kanpsack when you wander among people on main streets, shopping malls or markets. The emergency numbers for the city are: 110 for police, 110 for fire emergency and 120 for ambulance.
City Transportation
Shanghai has a convenient and efficient public transport system integrating Taxi, Buses, Ferry, Metro and Light-Rail. If you stay in Shanghai longer than two weeks, it's wise to get a Shanghai Public Transport Card (Jiatong card), available in any metro station. It comes with a 30 yuan deposit, which mean if you pay 100 yuan, the pre-paid amount is 70 yuan. You can get the deposit back at some Metro stations, such as the station at People's Square, once you have finished with the card. You can buy one at any Metro Station ticket counter and 100 RMB card is a good choice.
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