Shanghai

Map

Key data

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

Highlights

Introduction

• China's most cosmopolitan city — the Bund, futuristic skyline and world-class dining.

History

• Shanghai was called "Shen" in ancient times, named after the fief of Lord Chunshen Huang Xie during the Warring States period. It became a town in the Song dynasty, a county in the Yuan dynasty, and prospered in the Ming and Qing dynasties thanks to its shipping trade. After opening as a treaty port in 1843, Shanghai rapidly grew into a major commercial and financial center of the Far East, and the foreign-style buildings of the Bund bear witness to this era. Since the 20th century, Shanghai has remained a key city in China's industrialization and modernization, and the development of Pudong in the 1990s brought even more rapid growth. From a small water town in the Jiangnan region to an international metropolis, Shanghai encapsulates China's modern and contemporary development.

Culture

• Shanghai culture is known for its "Haipai" style, with a distinctive blend of Chinese and Western elements and an inclusive, eclectic character. The Shanghai dialect of Wu Chinese is soft and gentle, while Jiangnan opera forms such as Yue opera, Shanghai opera, and Pingtan have a lasting charm. Benbang cuisine is rich in oil and dark soy sauce, and street snacks such as shengjian bao, xiaolongbao, and crab-shell pastry are exquisite and delicious. Shikumen lanes are a residential form unique to Shanghai, and Yu Garden and the City God Temple carry on traditional New Year customs. As an important birthplace of Chinese film, literature, and fashion, Shanghai has a rich cultural life, with a density of museums and art galleries ranking among the highest in the country.

Science & Technology

• Shanghai is one of China's centers of scientific and technological innovation, home to top universities such as Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Tongji University, as well as numerous national-level laboratories. Zhangjiang Science City focuses on three leading industries—integrated circuits, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence—and has produced a series of world-class innovations. The domestically built C919 large passenger aircraft was assembled in Shanghai, and the Yangshan Deep-Water Port operates fully automatically. Shanghai also promotes international scientific, technological, and economic exchange through platforms such as the China International Import Expo, and innovation's contribution to the city's development continues to rise.

Economy

• Shanghai is China's economic center, with a 2025 regional GDP of 5,670.871 billion yuan, ranking among the top cities nationwide. Finance is Shanghai's core pillar; Lujiazui gathers numerous domestic and foreign financial institutions, and its status as an international financial center is increasingly consolidated. High-end manufacturing, integrated circuits, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence are thriving, and the "Shanghai Manufacturing" brand is renowned nationwide. The dual airports of Pudong and Hongqiao and the Port of Shanghai, which leads the world in container throughput, make Shanghai an important gateway connecting China and the world.