Shanghai, The Pearl of the Orient
A one time place of mystery, drawing in adventurers from all over the world, Shanghai's exotic charms had proved irresistible, giving rise to thousands of foreign buildings filling the city with an intoxicating international flair. Today, Shanghai is once again embracing the world as it returns to its greatness of yesteryear, setting off a new “Golden Era”.
Shanghai lies in central-eastern China, exposed to the China East Sea. Broadly, central Shanghai is divided into two areas: Pudong (east of the Huangpu River) and Puxi (west of the Huangpu River).
Shanghai still has no single central focus and the feel of the city still owes much to the original concessions.
On the east side of the Huanpu is Pudong, a special economic zone of banks, skyscrapers and new residential complexes. Street names are given in Pinyin, which makes navigating easy, and many of the streets are named after cities and provinces.
For visitors, most attractions are in Puxi, including the Bund - the tourist centrepiece, though not the physical centre of town. West of the Bund is the former International Settlement and one of Shanghai's main shopping streets, Nanjing Lu. South of the Bund is the Chinese city, a maze of narrow lanes. West of the old town and hidden in the backstreets north and south of Huaihai Lu (Shanghai's premier shopping street) is the former French Concession, with tree-lined streets, 1930s architecture, and cafes and bars. At its west end is a major collection of Western restaurants and bars.
Northeastern Shanghai has an industrial feel and is home to several universities. Farther northwest is Zhapei and Shanghai train station.
Shanghai is endowed with rich tourist attractions related to its long and complicated history. Many buildings, constructed in various foreign styles, are well preserved in the Bund area, and western tourists will feel a sense of familiarity when strolling around the long street, which resembles those in European cities. This blending of eastern and western styles has given the Bund a reputation as a "World's Fair of Architecture.” Many buildings from the 1920s and 1930s have also survived in the Old City section of Shanghai.
Shanghai, Hu for short, is situated on the estuary of Yangtze River of China. It is the largest city in China. Covering an area of 5,800 square kilometers (2,239 square miles), Shanghai has a population of 18.7 million, including 2 million floating population.
Originally, Shanghai was a seaside fishing village and in time its gradual development led to it being granted County status on August 19th, 1291 during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Hence this day became the anniversary of the founding of Shanghai. Today's Shanghai is a multi-cultural metropolis with both modern and traditional Chinese features. Bubbling Shanghai shows off every aspect of her unique glamour.
Modern Shanghai has three key areas of interest to the visitor. These comprise Sightseeing, Business and Shopping centered upon People's Square and along the Huangpu River.
A wide variety of cuisines can be found in the City and today Shanghai offers a plethora of culinary delights focusing on the traditions of Beijing, Yangzhou, Sichuan, Guangzhou as well as its own local dishes. Shanghai's restaurants are among the finest to be found in China and they welcome diners from anywhere at any time.
Shanghai continues to grow and prosper meeting the aspirations of the 21st century while retaining its proud traditions of service and hospitality.