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Shanghai Pudong skyline
Shanghai Pudong skyline
Author: Castelfranco (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)











Shanghai is the most populous city in China. Comprising 16 districts and one county, it covers 6,340.5 sq km (2,448 sq mi) and has a population of 23 million people.

Guide to Hotels in Shanghai

Looking for accommodation in Shanghai? Here's a list of all the hotels in Shanghai that you can book online.


Shanghai World Financial Center Observation Deck
Shanghai World Financial Center Observation Deck
Author: Alan Levine (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Geography of Shanghai

Shanghai is located in the Yangtze River Delta. The municipality consists of the area between the Yangtze River and Hangzhou Bay. Also included within Shanghai is Chongming, the second largest island in mainland China, along with other smaller islands. Downtown Shanghai is not on the Yangtze River itself, but on the Huangpu, a tributary of the Yangtze.

Shanghai is bordered by Jiangsu Province to the north and west, and by Zhejiang Province to the south. It faces the East China Sea to the east.


Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel and Bridge
Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel and Bridge
Author: Max W (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Climate of Shanghai

Shanghai experiences a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid while winters are cold and damp. The city is prone to typhoons in summer and at the beginning of autumn. Snow can be expected for one or two days of the year.

July is the hottest month in Shanghai, when the average high temperature rises to 31.8°C (89.2°F). January is the coldest month, with average low temperature of 1.1°C (34°F). June is the wettest month in the city, receiving 169.6 mm (6.67 in) of rainfall.


Expressway interchange in Shanghai
Expressway interchange in Shanghai
Author: Pyzhou (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

Administrative Divisions of Shanghai

Shanghai is divided into 17 county-level divisions, comprising 16 districts and one county. Each district has its own urban core, although downtown Shanghai is concentrated on the area bordered by the Bund to the east, Nanjing Road to the north, Old City Temple and Huaihai Road to the south.

The Huangpu River cuts Shanghai into two parts. Puxi, or West of the Huangpu River, is the older Shanghai, comprising eight districts. Pudong, or East of the Huangpu River, is the new Shanghai, comprising seven districts and one county.


Shanghai Maglev train
Shanghai Maglev train
Author: Andreas Krebs (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Arriving in Shanghai

Pudong International Airport
The Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is the main international airport serving Shanghai. Located 40 km to the east of downtown Shanghai, it has two huge terminals connected by a free shuttle bus service. You can walk between terminals on a series of travelators.

Leaving the airport, nothing beats taking the Maglev (magnetic levetational) train. It covers the 30.5 km within 7 minutes. At the cost of RMB50, you can imagine the speed your cash leaves your wallet before the journey is done. The train takes you to the Longyang Road Metro Station, which means you still need to change to a regular transport, namely a subway train or a taxi.


Pudong International Airport, Shanghai
Pudong International Airport, Shanghai
Author: Baycrest (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Generic)


An alternative to the Maglev train is the regular subway Line 2, which has been extended all the way to Pudong Airport, connecting it with People's Square in downtown Shanghai.

Hongqiao International Airport
The Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) was the main airport of Shanghai before Pudong materialized. Today it is used mostly for domestic flights, though some shuttle flights for Tokyo-Haneda, Seoul-Gimpo, Hong Kong and Taipei-Songshan still departs from it. And it does have a shiny, new Terminal 2, used by all airlines. There is also the old, dingy Terminal 1, now delegated to serve low-cost carriers.

Terminal 2 is served by the Metro Line 2, which heads east to People's Square, then onwards to Pudong International Airport. The trains run daily from 5:35 am to 10:50 pm.


Shanghai Metro Line 2 station at Hongqiao International Airport Terminal 2
Shanghai Metro Line 2 station at Hongqiao International Airport Terminal 2
Author: Jucember (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

Places of Interest in Shanghai

Shanghai at dusk
Shanghai at dusk
Author: Robert S Donovan (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)


A lilong in Shanxi Nan Lu, Shanghai
A lilong in Shanxi Nan Lu, Shanghai
Author: Peter17 (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)


Shanghai World Financial Center and Jin Mao Tower
Shanghai World Financial Center and Jin Mao Tower
Author: Jakub Halun (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
  1. French Concession
    Once a foreigner's enclave, today the French Concession is an upscale residential and retail neighborhood.

  2. Fuxing Park
    Park located within the French Concession still bearing elements of French garden style.

  3. Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Building
    Historic building on the Bund, today housing the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank.

  4. Hongkou Park
    Park with lake to the north of Suzhou Creek, where the locals go for boat rides.

  5. Huangpu River
    Famous river that flows through Shanghai.

  6. Jade Buddha Temple
    Also known as the Shanghai Yufo Temple, this is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Shanghai.

  7. Jin Mao Tower
    This is one of the first major skyscrapers in the Pudong district of Shanghai.

  8. Jing'an Temple
    An important temple with a history going back to the 3rd century AD.

  9. Longhua Cemetery of Martyrs
    Cemetery of those who died to advance the communist caused, located where the Nationalist executed hundreds of Communists.

  10. Nanjing Road
    The most famous road in Shanghai, major location for the biggest department stores of the city.

  11. Old Bank of China Building
    Heritage building on the Bund.

  12. Oriental Pearl Tower
    An observation and telecommunication tower in Pudong district with a dramatic design.

  13. Peace Hotel
    Famous historic hotel on the Bund.

  14. People's Park & Square
    Famous public square in the heart of Shanghai.

  15. Pudong
    New development precinct of Shanghai, and home to its tallest skyscrapers.

  16. Shanghai Art Museum
    Museum housed in the former clubhouse of the Shanghai Racing Club.

  17. Shanghai Exhibition Centre
    Grim, Soviet-style structure erected in 1954.

  18. Shanghai Grand Theatre
    A mammoth theater designed by a French architect.

  19. Shanghai Museum
    Huge museum housing over 120,000 artifacts.

  20. Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
    Six storey complex showcasing the urban development of Shanghai.

  21. Shanghai World Financial Center
    Momentarily the tallest skyscraper in Shanghai.

  22. Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party
    Historic house within the French Concession.

  23. Song Qingling's Former Residence
    Former residence of the wife of Dr Sun Yat-sen.

  24. The Bund
    Famous riverside promenade in Shanghai.

  25. Xujiahui Catholic Cathedral
    Gothic-style Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Ignatius.

  26. Yuyuan Garden
    Garden next to the ancient city park of Shanghai.

Sights in the vicinity of Shanghai

  1. She Shan
    Hill to the southwest of Shanghai.

  2. Song Jiang
    Charming little town between Shanghai and Hangzhou.

World Greatest Sites

  1. Oriental Pearl Tower Photo Album

Return to China Travel Guide






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