Shanghai 🔥

Key data

Items shown in Chinese are kept from the original Chinese source; no English name is available yet.

Landmarks

City Overview

• The Bund's colonial facades against a futuristic skyline — China's most dazzling global metropolis.

History

• The name Shanghai dates from the Song dynasty, when a town was established here; a county was set up in the Yuan dynasty, and by the Ming dynasty it had become a major trading center on the southeast coast. After opening as a treaty port in modern times, its position at the mouth of the Yangtze allowed it to develop rapidly into a famous commercial port of the Far East, where Western trading houses and banks stood alongside Chinese guild halls and diverse cultures converged; the Bund's architecture took shape during this period. In the late 20th century Shanghai transformed into a comprehensive industrial city, and the development of Pudong drove leapfrog urban growth, steadily strengthening its financial and shipping functions and building it into the world-class metropolis it is today.

Culture

• The Shanghai dialect, soft and melodious Wu speech, is the auditory calling card of Shanghai culture. Benbang cuisine is rich in oil and red sauce, sweet and savory to the taste, while snacks like xiaolongbao, shengjian, and pork chop with rice cake have distinctive flavors. Shikumen architecture blends Chinese and Western styles, nurturing a unique lane life and neighborly warmth; qipao, pingtan, and Shanghai opera radiate the elegance of old Shanghai. Shanghai embraces all comers, with cafes, art museums, and design exhibitions across the city; traditional culture and fashion trends thrive together here, showcasing an open and inclusive urban spirit.

Science & Technology

• Shanghai is a national hub of education and research, home to top universities such as Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University along with numerous research institutes. Zhangjiang Science City focuses on three leading industries—integrated circuits, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence—with major scientific facilities and innovation platforms taking shape one after another. High-end manufacturing projects, including final assembly of domestically built large aircraft and shipbuilding, demonstrate hardcore strength, while construction of an international science and technology innovation center advances steadily and the innovation ecosystem grows ever more complete.

Economy

• Shanghai's 2025 GDP reached 5,670.871 billion yuan, ranking among the top cities nationwide in economic output. Finance, shipping, trade, and advanced manufacturing develop in tandem; the Lujiazui financial district gathers Chinese and foreign financial institutions, and its factor markets reach across the country. International expos such as the China International Import Expo attract global merchants, and the consumer market is prosperous and vibrant. The city continues to serve as a hub linking the world and allocating resources.

Climate