Shanghai

Shanghai encompasses 6,340 square kilometres, of which the Xin Pudong Area takes up 522 square kilometre. Within the area there are four key small zones, such as Lujianzui Financial and Trade Zone, Golden Bridge Export Processing Zone, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone and Zhangjiang High-tech Zone. The city is China's second-largest one in terms of population and is one of the four centrally administered cities in the country, the other three being Beijing, Tianjin, and Chongqing. It is also one of China's most important industrial and cultural centres. To most foreigners, Shanghai used to be the adventurers' paradise. Most of the European-style quarters of the Old International Settlement and the French Concession areas can still be seen, though they are much in need of repair.

Shanghai is situated at 31.14 degrees north latitude and 121.29 degrees east longitude. The city belongs to sub -tropical marine season climate. There are four distinct seasons, with abundant rainfall. Average annual rainfall is about 1,200 millimetres. The annual average temperature is 15.7°C, the hottest being in August with an average temperature of about 28°C; the coldest is in January, the average temperature being 3°C. Intermittent drizzles in the rainy season range form mid-June to the first ten-day period of July lasting approximately 20 days. Hot summer follows the rainy season. The name Shanghai first appeared in 960 when the settlement was a backward fishing village. In 1554, a 7-metre high crenellated city wall and a moat encircled the village to protect it against the frequent incursion of the Japanese pirates. By the 17 th century there were signs of growing wealth, but when the British troops stormed its undefended walls in 1842, Shanghai was still only a county town of little importance. After the First Opium War (1840-1842), foreign settlements, such as the British Settlement, American Settlement, French Settlement, and the Japanese occupied area in Shanghai appeared one after another.

To transform itself into a major international shipping centre, Shanghai began to build a new deep-water container port in 2002. The first phase of the project including the construction of five 15-metre berths will be completed in 2005. The new port will allow access to the sea for fifth-generation and sixth generation container ships, which can carry between 5,000 and 6,000 20-foot containers, and will increase the city's capacity for maritime cargo transport. Shanghai's three vital port programmes include the city's international central airport project, its international shipping centre project and the international cyber port project. Construction of such a deep-water port, coupled with the other centres, will lay a cornerstone for the city's economic growth in the new century. The ports could even fuel economic growth in the entire Yangtze River valley and central and western parts of the country.

Shanghai will become Asia's major airline hub within five to ten years, capitalizing on its favourable geographical location and high-quality aviation facilities. Shanghai's central geographical location and the huge market potential of Asia make the city well positioned to be an international aviation centre. Shanghai, the only Chinese city with two international airports, will have the annual capacity to handle 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo by 2010. The first phase of construction of the Pudong International Airport was completed and put into operation in 1999. The city also has plans to extend the No 2 Subway Line to link the two airports to ease transportation problems. On the cyber port programme, Shanghai will transform itself into one of the world's major information centres within the next 10 years. Already the most exciting and fashionable city in China, Shanghai is quickly earning an international reputation as one of the world's fashion centres. A melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures, Shanghai's growing middle class is not only following international fashions, but they are setting trends for the future. Shanghai Maglev Train--It is the world's first commercialized operating magnetic levitation line. The 30-kilometre-long trip, between Longyang Road Station (Metro Line 2) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport, takes only seven minutes, with a maximum speed of 430 kilometres per hour.