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Shanghai, honored as "Oriental Paris" and shorted as “Hu”, is the biggest industrial and commercial city in China and the most international city of China, one of the four direct-controlled municipalities of China and national economic, financial, trade and shipping center. With a population of more than 24 million, Shanghai is the largest city proper by population in the world and a global financial center. Located in the Yangtze River Delta in East China, Shanghai sits on the southern edge of the mouth of the Yangtze River in the middle portion of the Chinese coast, bounded to the east by the East China Sea. As a transport hub with one of the world's busiest container ports, the municipality has the most developed transportation network, which is very convenient to other domestic cities and countries worldwide.
Shanghai has a long history of over 1,000 years and closely parallels the development of modern China. Originating from a small agricultural village, Shanghai developed during the late Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) to be one of China's principal trading ports. Since reform and opening up, the city has burgeoned to be one of Asia's and world's financial centers and world's busiest container port.
As the economic, financial and trade center, Shanghai GDP ranks first among all the cities in mainland China, is, and ranks 16th in terms of the Global Financial Centers Index in the 2015 edition published by the Z/Yen Group and Qatar Financial Centre Authority. During the 1930s, it was the largest and most prosperous city in the Far East, and in 1990s it began rapid re-development. Shanghai is also an important cultural center throughout the country. The 41st World Exposition was held in Shanghai in 2010.
Shanghai is a main industrial center of China, playing an import role in China's heavy industries. Heavy industries account for 78% of the gross industrial output. Many famous enterprises, well-known both at home and abroad, are located and develop here, such as Baosteel Group - China's largest steelmaker, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group - China's largest shipbuilding base and Jiangnan Shipyard - one of China's oldest shipbuilders. Auto manufacture is another important industry. The Shanghai-based SAIC Motor - one of the three largest automotive corporations in China, has strategic partnerships with Volkswagen and General Motors.
Shanghai is located in the Yangtze River Delta on China's east coast. The old city and modern downtown Shanghai is now located in the center of an expanding peninsula between the Yangtze River Delta to the north and Hangzhou Bay to the south, formed by the Yangtze's natural deposition and by modern land reclamation projects. Downtown Shanghai is bisected by the Huangpu River.
Shanghai has an extensive network of public transport system, including airplanes, train (including high-speed rail and bullet train), maglev train, metros (14 metro lines), buses and taxis. Shanghai, a leading air transport gateway in Asia, is the only city in China that has two international airports - Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport, linking with a great number of domestic and international cities such as Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, London, and Paris. Equipped with advanced facilities, these two modern airports operate over 1,000 flights every day.
Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons: pleasant spring, hot rainy summer, comfortable cool autumn and cold winter. Annual average temperature is 16.1 °C (61.0 °F). Rainy days reach 120 days of the year because of its location at the estuary of the Yangtze River to the East China Sea. Annual average precipitation reaches 1166 millimeters. The city receives average 1,895 hours of bright sunshine annually.
Over 30 universities and colleges' base, Shanghai is a key center of higher education in China. A great number of China's most prestigious universities and colleges are located in Shanghai, including Tongji University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, East China Normal University (These universities are listed as "985 universities" by the Chinese Government in order to build world-class universities), Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai International Studies University, Donghua University, East China University of Science and Technology and Second Military Medical University (These universities are listed as "211 universities" by the Chinese Government in order to build world-class universities).
Although as the economic and industrial center, Shanghai has kept good environment since great focus on environmental protection. Shanghai has established extensive public park system and some other environmental protection projects.
Shanghai is one of the major tourist cities in China. In 2013, the city's tourism industry realizes the added value of 140 billion yuan. Tourism service continues improving. By the end of 2013, the city has 271 star hotels, including 60 five-star hotels. There are 1302 travel agencies, among which 46 running outbound tourism. There are 88 a-level tourist attractions, 45 travel advisory service centers and 5 tourism hub sites.
Population: 24 million
Temperature: average 16.1 °C (61.0 °F)
