Shanghai Travel Guide

 Facts
Phone Code: 021
Postal Code: 200000
Area: 6,340.5 square kilometers (2,448.1 square miles)
Population: 23,474,600 (2011 statistics)
Neighboring Areas: Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces
Location: Shanghai located at the place where the Yangtze River and Huangpu River merge with the ocean. It faces Hangzhou Bay to the south and the China Sea to the east. The longitude lies between 120°51′and 122°12′E, and the latitude is between 30°40′and 31°53′N.

Physical Features: The city lies in the alluvial plain of Yangtze River delta and has an average height of 4 meters (13 feet) above sea level. In the west of the city, there are Tianma Hill, Xue Hill, and Phoenix Hill. Chongming Island, Changxing Island, and Hengsha Island are located at the Yangtze River estuary in the north. Chongming Island, with an area of 1,041.21 square kilometers (402 square miles), is the third largest island in China. 

Shanghai Maps

 History:  Hu or Shen for short, the city has a history of over 2,000 years. During the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC - 476BC), it belonged to the Wu Kingdom. On one day of July during the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368), over 700 years ago, a town was established, and that day has been regarded as the founding day of Shanghai. Today, it is the largest city in Mainland China and one of the most crowded cities in the world.

 Recommended Tour Itineraries:
3-Day Shanghai Travel: to the most popular attractions in the city 
Shanghai Side Trip: 5 days Side Trip to Suzhou and Zhouzhuang
Shanghai Extension Tour: 6 Days Tour of Shanghai - Hangzhou - Suzhou - Wuxi - Nanjing

 Attractions: Huangpu River & the Bund are the must-see attractions in the city. Standing on the Bund, you can see the landmark buildings of the city, such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower. The bustling Nanjing Road, which is one of the busiest commercial streets in the world, can be reached from the Bund on foot. When visiting Yuyuan Garden, Old City God's Temple, Shanghai Old Street, Shanghai Museum, Zhujiajiao Town, and Qibao Ancient Town, you will learn the special flavor and history of the city. As one of the top 10 attractions in the city, the Jade Buddha Temple is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world. In the Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, you can see the lively figures of your favorite stars.

 Transportation: Being a cosmopolis, the city has a developed transportation network on the land and sea as well as in the air. 
 Air: The two airports in the city, Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport operate international and domestic flights. See Shanghai Flight Schedules
 Train: Trains are operated by Shanghai Railway Station, South Railway Station, Hongqiao Railway Station, and West Railway Station. There are trains to most Chinese cities, including high-speed trains to Beijing, Nanjing and Hangzhou. See Shanghai Train Schedules 
 City Bus: It is one of the cities that have the most bus routes in the world. A bus net of over 1,000 routes covers the city. Bus/Subway Search
 Bus: Over 1,600 long-distance bus routes radiating from the city reach more than 600 cities and towns in China. There are altogether 47 long-distance Bus Stations in the city.
 Subway: The 11 subway lines link most of areas and traffic hubs in the city, including the Nanjing Road (line 2 & 10), Pudong Airport (line 2 & maglev train), and Shanghai Railway Station (line 1, 3 & 4).
 Ferry: Located at the Yangtze Delta, it is an important port in China. A cruise ship traveling from Chongqing along the Yangtze River can reach Yichang, Wuhan and finally Shanghai. Ferries are also significant mode of transportation to cross the Huangpu River.

 Weather: The city has a subtropical humid climate with four distinct seasons. January and February are the coldest months with the lowest temperature around -8°C (17.6°F) and -5°C (23°F), whilst July is the hottest month with the highest temperature reaches 35°C - 38°C (95°F - 100.4°F).

 Dining and Shopping
The local cuisine features sweet, sugar and soy sauce are the major seasonings. Fresh aquatic food including all kinds of fish, crabs, shrimps, and ducks are popular food in the city. The Nanxiang steamed stuffed buns, fried stuffed buns, pear syrup candy, and five-spiced beans are famous local snacks, and most of them can be found near the Old City God’s Temple.

There are many shopping centers apart from the bustling Nanjing Road. The Old City God’s Temple, Yunnan Road, Huanghe Road, and Xianxia Road boast local snacks and handicrafts such as silks, embroidery, and ivory carving. Middle Huaihai Road, North Sichuan Road and Xujiahui are also famous commercial centers. Qipu Road is special for clothing wholesale markets. 

 Expo 2010: Sites&Facilities, Expo Tickets, Expo Knowledge