Overview
Shanghai is China's largest city and a global financial center at the mouth of the Yangtze River on the East China Sea. It is a showcase of modern skycrapers alongside historic riverside architecture.
Municipality
Shanghai
上海市 · Capital: 上海
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Geography
Built on alluvial plains where the Yangtze meets the sea, Shanghai has a low, flat topography and an extensive network of rivers and canals, including the Huangpu River that divides its iconic Bund and Lujiazui districts.
History
A small fishing village until the 19th century, Shanghai was opened as a treaty port in 1842 and grew into Asia's most cosmopolitan city. It returned to Chinese administration in 1990s with the Pudong development boom.
Culture
Shanghai blends Jiangnan refinement with international flair. It gave birth to the "Shanghai style" (Haipai) culture, xintiandi shikumen lane houses, and a vibrant arts, fashion and jazz scene.
Cuisine
Shanghai cuisine (Benbang cai) is sweet and savory: braised pork (hongshao rou), drunken chicken, xiaolongbao soup dumplings, and shengjian fried buns are local icons.
Highlights
Must-visit: the Bund, Lujiazui skyline (Oriental Pearl, Shanghai Tower), Yu Garden, and the former French Concession.