Shanghai - the Metropolis at the Sea

Shanghai, the name means "city on the sea", is China's largest city, well known as the "Paris of the East" for its intrigue and glamour. The city's roots go back some 5,000 years to its origins as a small fishing village. Its desirable geographic location on China's eastern seaboard has made it a major port throughout its history, providing easy access to a vast hinterland. Following its occupation by the British in 1842, the Treaty of Nanjingd Shanghai to foreign trade and settlement. This led to its partition into British, French and later Japanese concessions, an international heritage that is still reflected in its downtown architecture. Today, this city of over 17 million people is writing new history to add to its centuries-old traditions. Asia's born-again international boomtown, Shanghai is at the forefront of China's drive for modernization.
Shanghai has one of the busiest ports of the world. As of December 2005, the port of Shanghai, including the newlyd Yangshan deep water port, is the largest in the world. What is currently longest cross-sea bridge of the world, the Donghai Bridge with a total length 32.5 kilometres, links Shanghai on the mainland to the Yangshan islands.
Shanghai is renowned as "the Orietal Paris" and it is a shopper's paradise with the Nanjing Road, the Huaihai Road, the Sichuan North Road as well as the Xujiahui Shopping Centre and the Yuyuan Shopping city.
The world-famous Bund stretches some 1.7 kilometres along the Huangpu River. A building boom at the end of 19th century and beginning of 20th century led to the Bund becoming a major financial hub of East Asia.
The restaurants in Shanghai are among the finest to be found in China and a great variety of cuisines can be found in the city of Shanghai with traditional specialities of Sichuan, Beiing, Yangzhou and Guangzhou as well as local dishes.

Hotel recommendations : The Luxury Hotels and Resorts of Shanghai

Shanghai - Climate
Southern China has a sub tropical monsoon climate with hot and humid summers along with high rainfall. Winters tend to be milder in this region. Generally the most agreeable seasons in china are spring and autumn.
Clothing : In winter a warm overcoat is advisable. Rainwear is necessary throughout china and you would be very happy to have it with you.

•Climate table

Shanghai alt 7m

             JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
 TEMP MAX C    
      MIN C    
 RAIN MM      
 HUMIDITY AM    
    %     PM

Shanghai Pudong Airport International

 GMT plus  0800

 Position of airport   : 30kms / 19 miles E of Shanghai

 Enquiries phone number: 

 Airport tax           : domestic     : CNY 50, (infants excepted)
                         international: CNY 90, (exp. children under 12)

 Contact airlines individually for check-in deadlines detail.

•Surface transportation

 Journey time to airport: 40mins

 - by bus

 to/from Shanghai railway station
 Cost: CNY 18.--

 bus No.6 to/from Zhongshan Park
 Cost: CNY 14.--

 - by taxi

 to/from city centre
 Cost: CNY 130.--

 - by train
 Maglev line (Transrapid by Siemens/Germany) from Pu Dong International Airport
 to Longyang Road metro station. The 30kms ride will take only 8mins.

 Round trip ticket costs 80 Yuan.
 One way ticket costs 50 Yuan.
 Passengers with current day flight ticket can buy a 
 one way ticket of Maglev Train at 20 percent discount.

Shanghai HongQiao Airport

 GMT plus  0800

 Position of airport   : 12kms / 7.5 miles W of Shanghai

 Enquiries phone number: 
 Flight information no.:  ext 3520

 Airport tax           : domestic     : CNY 50, (infants excepted)
                         international: CNY 90, (exp. children under 12)

 Contact airlines individually for check-in deadlines detail.

•Surface transportation

 Journey time to airport: 30mins

 - by bus

 Airport bus service to the city centre
 city bus no. 925 runs airport to People's Square
 city bus no. 831 runs airport to the Bund
 city bus no. 505 runs airport to Renmin Square
 city bus no. 833 runs airport to Shanghai railway station
 Journey time: 25-40mins
 Cost: CNY 20.-- (cost varies from places to places)

 - by taxi

 Jounrney time: 25mins
 Cost: CNY 45.--