City Overview

Shanghai is the largest city of mainland China. Originally a fishing and textiles town, it has now developed into a modern city and became the world’s largest port in 2005 in terms of cargo throughout, handling a total of 443 million tons of cargo.

Shanghai is also regarded as the centre of finance and trade in mainland China.

Pillar Industries Breakdown (Year 2006)
Industry	Industrial Value	% of total	% increase comparing 2005
Equipment Manufacturing	RMB 894.3 billion (£ 66.3 b)	48.3	21.5
Electronic information products	RMB 453.5 billion (£ 33.6 b)	24.5	15.8
Automobile Manufacturing	RMB 143.1 billion (£ 10.6 b)	7.8	42.3
Petrochemical and fine chemical manufacturing	RMB 210.8 billion (£ 15.6 b)	11.4	9.7
Fine steel manufacturing	RMB 144.4 billion (£ 10.7 b)	7.9	10
Data Source: Shanghai Economic Committee

Equipment Manufacturing remains the most dominated industry in Shanghai macro economy, which has even posted 21.5% increase in 2006, while Electronic information products industry increased 15.8% and Automobile Manufacturing increased 42.3%. Shanghai is also the commercial centre of Middle East China, with the biggest port, convenient high way & cross-bay bridge, good railway connections, and two international airports.

Shanghai ranks No.1 in the Energy Technology, Infrastructure and ICT sectors, 2nd in the Environment and 3rd in Financial Service, Life Sciences and Advanced Engineering sectors, among mainland China cities. All these sectors have been particularly attractive to foreign company headquarters, R&D centers as well as other investment destinations. The Shanghai Stock Exchange has also been set up in the city, with the Shanghai Composite Index growing 130% in 2006.

Number of foreign companies in Shanghai: 48953
Total amount of investment: USD 267.64 billion (£ 133.82 b)
Total amount of registered capital: USD 152.83 billion (£ 76.42 b)

Data Source: Shanghai Administration of Industry and Commerce (SHAIC), May 2008

No. of foreign firms' regional headquarters: 201
No. of overseas-funded investment companies: 171
No. of multinationals' R&D centers: 254

Data Source: Shanghai Economic Committee, June 2008

Useful Links

Shanghai basic info, career, housing, expat life style, shopping, tourism & travel: www.entershanghai.info

Shanghai facts, tours, map, transportation, banks and embassies: www.shanghaihighlights.com

Travel itineraries, shopping, entertainment, food, hotel, history: www.lonelyplanet.com

Travel guide – attractions, transportation, hotel and climate: www.wordtravels.com

Scenic Spots, entertainment, restaurants, clubs, schools, transportation, shopping, etc: www.mychinastart.com

Shanghai city introduction, sightseeing, food, nightlife, shopping, etc: www.timeout.com

Introducing restaurants, bars, events, it is also an online community.
www.cityweekend.com.

Tourist attractions

Huangpu River and the Bund
For foreign visitors, the Bund is the place to go for its old buildings, its history (the Bund is considered to be the birthplace of Shanghai) and for promenading, especially of an evening. On the opposite side of the Huangpu river is Pudong, which has been transformed from little more than swampland to a glitzy financial district (Liujiazui) and growing urban centre in its own right. Shanghai's international airport is now on Pudong, connected by metro line and maglev trains. Boat trips along the Huangpu give good views of both Pudong and the Bund.

Address: Zhongshan Dong Yi Road, Shanghai
Click here for more information.

Jade Buddha Monastery
The monastery is famous for two exquisite jade statues of Buddha, one seated, the other lying. In the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing dynasty, early 20th century, the old Master Hui Gen traveled through China and Burma, and paid visits to famous mountains, monasteries, as well as well-known people. He then raised money, built jade Buddha in Burma, brought them back to China and became the first abbot of the monastery.

It is said that the temple only escaped destruction by the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s because the abbot bolted the doors and covered them with pictures of Chairman Mao, which the Red Guards did not dare to touch.

Address: No. 170 Anyuan Road, Shanghai
Click here for more information.

Yu Yuan Garden
Yuyuan Garden, maybe the most celebrated classical Chinese garden in Shanghai, is located in the northeast part of the old town. In 1559, a Ming official named Pan Yunduan developed this private garden for his father's pleasure. Later, the garden gradually fell into disuse and then was damaged. It was restored to its former glory after 1949 and opened to the public in 1961. Yuyuan is particularly noted for its architecture: each pavilion, hall, stone and stream in the garden expresses the quintessence of South China landscape design from Ming and Qing dynasties.

Address: No. 137, Anren Road, Shanghai
Click here for more information.

Xintiandi
Xintiandi is a pedestrian area of shopping, eating and entertainment in central Shanghai. It is composed of an area of restored traditional shikumen ("stone gate") houses on narrow alleys, a modern shopping mall with a cinema complex, and some ad joining houses which now serve as book stores, cafes and restaurants. Most of the cafes and restaurants feature both indoor and outdoor seats. Xintiandi has an active nightlife on weekdays as well as weekends, though romantic settings are more common than loud music and dance places. Xintiandi means "New Heaven and Earth", and is considered one of the first lifestyle centers in China.

Address: Lane 181, Taicang Road, Shanghai
Click here for more information.