About Shanghai Travel Guide

Shanghai is the largest city in China in terms of population and is the financial and trade,economic center of  China.Shanghai is a dynamic,diverse and stimulating city--the very epitome of modern China.Though Shanghai cannot rival Beijing in scenery or cultural heritage,its varied architectural styles and cosmopolitan feel give it a charm of its own.A walk through this booming city reveals many glimpses of its colorful past.Hidden amongst the skyscrapers and express ways are remains of the original Shanghai,important memorial to the founding of New China and many reminders of early 20 th century Western influences.There are also examples of how the city has managed to transform some of its older buildings into elegant structures serving the needs of an increasingly cosmopolitan city.

Bordering Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces,Shanghai is washed by the East China Sea on the East and Hangzhou Bay on the south.The city covers a total area of 6,341 square kilometers with a population of 20,000,000.

Shanghai History

There is an evidence of human settlement in this area since around 4000 B.C,Shanghai began as Huating County,and administrative district set up in 751 A.D.It was a small,walled town based on fishing and river trade.The county.situated in an area known today as Songjiang District,had its boundary reaching today's Hongkong District.In 991 A.D,Shanghai Town was established in the county,In 1292,then the central government of the Yuan Dynasty approved the establishment of Shanghai County in this Area,which has been acclaimed as the official beginning of the city of Shanghai.

By the Ming Dynasty,Shanghai had already become China's Largest textile center and business was growing rapidly.In the 24 th year of the Qing emperor Kangxi's reign(A.D.1685),the Qing goverment set up its first customs office in Shanghai.By that time Shanghai was already a city with a population of 200.000.During the reigns of Qing emperors Qianlong and Jiaqing,the city gradually became China's major trading port and water transportation center for grains.

Prior to the arrival of Western imperialists,Shanghai was already a prosperous coastal city.In 1842,it was captured by the British,and although the Chinese paid a large amount of money to keep it from being saked,there was considerable loot by foreign powers.The Treaty of Nanking opened Shanghai to foreign trade and led to its partition into British,American,French,and later Japanese concession,which continued until the early 1940s.Each of the concessions had its own tax system,police,courts,buses and electrical wattage.A criminal cound escape justice just by going from one concession to another.Shanghai was thus known as " A paradise for Adventurers"

Today 's Shanghai

Today Shanghai has many monuments and reminders of its colorful past ,but its spectacular modern architecture is increasingly recognized as one of the symbols of New China.Like a rising sun the city exudes energy and brilliant color.Every morning,as the firs rays of sunlight touch the city,the big bell atop the Customs Building on the bund rings ,and annouces to the world that Shanghai has bright perspective in the years to come.

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• About Shanghai Travel Guide
• Shanghai Chenghuang Temple Tour Guide
• Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower Tour Guide
• Shanghai Yuyuan Garden Tour Guide
• Shanghai Shopping Guide
• Shanghai Attractions
• Shanghai Shopping
• Shanghai Food and Restaurants
• Shanghai Transportation
• Shanghai Weather & Climate