Shanghai, China travel

Shanghai is located on the eastern coast of China, by the sea, on the delta of the river Yangtze. Shanghai’s climate is sub-tropical, with four distinct seasons, very cold winters and hot and humid summers. Shanghai is a municipality, under the direct control of the Chinese central government, it is divided into 18 districts and one county and it is home to about 16 millions inhabitants. The language spoken commonly in Shanghai is Shanghainese, a dialect of Wu Chinese. Most people from Shanghai, however, speak Mandarin fluently as well as Shanghainese.

Shanghai has been a rich and thriving city since the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), when it became the largest textile centre in China. During the 1800s, Shanghai became an important open trade port to foreigners. The Chinese Communist Party was founded in July 1921 in Shanghai. Nowadays Shanghai is the biggest city and largest commercial hub in China. Shanghai’s business is thriving and the city is leader in the Chinese scientific and technological innovation area. Shanghai hosts many of China’s best an oldest universities, such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University, Tongji University, Shanghai University and many more.

So important and appealing is Shanghai, that it even appeared in many famous Hollywood movies such as Armageddon, Empire of the Sun, Mission Impossible 3, Shanghai Express and several more.

Shanghai – how to get there

Shanghai by Air - Shanghai has two airports Hongqiao and Pudong International served by more than forty local and international airlines.

Shanghai by train – Shanghai has two main train stations Shanghai Railway Station and Shanghai South Railway Station, which are located in the hub of the Chinese railway net and connect Shanghai with every other city in China.

Shanghai by boat – Shanghai’s harbour is the biggest seaport in China, connecting the city with over one hundred ports worldwide. Shanghai is also accessible by inland navigation, thanks to the Yangtze river.

Shanghai by road – Shanghai is accessible by road from anywhere in China, as it is located in a main position within the Chinese highway web.
Travelling within Shanghai – Shanghai has an extensive public transportation system, including buses, metro and plenty of taxis at affordable prices.

Shanghai food

Shanghainese cuisine is one of the eight great cuisines of China. A typical Shanghai dish is braised meat, which is a kind of beef stew where the meat is cooked for a long time with spices. This type of cooking is also called ‘red cooking’.
Shanghainese cuisine involves the use of alcohol (to marinate meat or fish, which is then served raw) and sugar added to savoury dishes.

Shanghai attractions