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SHANGHAI
At a glance | General Information | Travel | Climate | Attractions | Tours originating: Shanghai

Shanghai Attractions: Jade Buddha Temple | Longhua Pagoda and Longhua Temple | The Bund | Old City Shanghai | Yu Garden | Shanghai Museum | Oriental Pearl TV Tower | Children's Palace | River Excursions | Longhua Temple | Yu Fo Temple (Jade Buddha Temple) | Orthodox Eastern Church | Shanghai Botanical Gardens | First Communist Congress House | Shanghai_attractions.html | Huangpu River | Ancient China Sex Culture Museum | Zhouzhuang, a Town on Water | Ancient Town of Wuzhen | Shopping on "China's Number One Street"

Click here for up to Hotels discounted at up to 75% off published rates: Shanghai | Pudong

Shanghai at a glance:

Shanghai is China's most comprehensive industrial and commercial city, ranking No.1 in population and population density, and as a sea port, science and technology center, and business center. As a tourist city, it attracts travelers from both home and abroad by its commercial activity rather than scenic beauty. Location: Situated between 3114' north latitude and 12129' east longitude, on the bank of the Yangtze River Delta, East river in east, Huangzhon delta in south. Neighboring Areas: Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province. Population: 13 million. Area: 6,185 sq. km. Nationalities: Han, Hui, and Manchu. Climatic Features: enjoys north subtropical maritime monsoon climate, distinguishing climate, enough sunshine and rainfall, 230 days of non-forest, typhoons in June; spring and autumn are relatively short compared with summer and winter. Average Temperature: 16C. Rainfall: average annual rainfall is about 1,200mm. See our Weather Page.

General Information:

Formerly an unimportant fishing village, Shanghai (translated literally, "on the sea") is one of the world's largest seaports and a major industrial and commercial center of China. It is located on the coast of the East China Sea, between the mouth of the Yangtze River to the north and the bays of Hangzhou to the south. Since first opening to the outside world in the 19th Century (a result of the expansion of foreign nations abroad) and, more recently, reopening to the outside world (after the period of upheaval of the Cultural Revolution), Shanghai has become China's most energetic and cosmopolitan city. It has attracted immigrants from within China as well as abroad. Its residents are known for their business talents, quick wit, and sophistication. It is the site of China's first and foremost stock exchange, the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Its industrial products rank the best in quality in China. It is one of China's leading centers of higher education and scientific research, including the famous Fudan and Jiao Tong universities. In 1993, with the strong support of the central government, Shanghai established the Pudong New Area Administration to oversee the development of the Pudong New Area into a special economic zone, including a modern financial center, a high technology development park, and an export processing and free trade zone. A tourist city, Shanghai attracts travelers from both home and abroad because of its commercial activity rather than for its scenic beauty.

Climate:   See our Weather Page.

Shanghai has a fairly extreme climatic range, with four distinct seasons. Winters can be bone-chillingly cold with occasional snow, while summers are very hot. Humidity levels are high almost year round. It can rain for days on end, though the official rainy season lasts from mid June to mid July. The best weather tends to occur in September and October. Average temperature: 2-3.5C in January, 27-38C in July.

Travel:

By Rail:  There are four major railroad stations in Shanghai: Shanghai Railroad Main Station, Shanghai Railroad Nanxiang Station, Shanghai Railroad South Station, Shanghai Railroad Taopu Station and Shanghai Railroad West Station. Everyday 73 trains leaves and arrives Shanghai Railroad Main Station as the destination including #652 to Nanjing, #T14 to Suzhou, #390 to Chengdu, #52 to Urumqi, #99 to Kowloon, #Y211 to Hangzhou, #71 to Chongqing, etc. There are 9 trains coming and going from Shanghai Railroad West Station including #356 to Baotou, #342 to Qiqiha'er, #497 to Hengyang, #311 to Canton, etc. Passengers traveling between cities in the eastern part of China could always take advantage of the Tourist Express Thorough Train starting or bypassing Shanghai. By Road:  Huning Highway (Shanghai to Nanjing) was put into operation in 1996 with a total length of 171 miles (274kms). The highway bypasses major cities along the eastern coast of China including Kunshan, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Zhengjiang, Jurong and Nanjing. It takes 160 minutes for the ride from Shanghai to Nanjing on the highway. Highway Huhang (Shanghai to Hangzhou) has been completed, which makes the distance between Shanghai and Hangzhou 122 miles (195kms) equivalent to a ride of only 100 minutes. Elevated Inner city free way becomes rather convenient after the completion of the Nanpu Bridge, Yangpu Bridge, Inner City Loop and Elevated North and South City Loop. By Air:  Shanghai Hongqiao Airport is one of the largest three airports in China. It is also the switch center of eastern China air traffic. A multi-level, multi-function air service in Shanghai has been formed enabling the landing of more than 250 flights everyday. In 1995, the yearly passenger volume in Shanghai reached 11 million, and a steady 11% increase has been realized in each of the successive years. At present, Shanghai has flights to international cities including Bangkok, Brussels, Frankfurt, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Hiroshima, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Macau, Madrid, Melbourne, Munich, Nagasaki, Nagoya, Niigata, Osaka, Paris, San Francisco, Sendai, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Vancouver. Flights from Shanghai are also available to every city in China.

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