An Introduction to Shanghai Municipality 上 海 市 简 介

Abbreviation: Hu 沪
Area: 6,340 square kilometers
Population: 16.74 million
Location: In east China on the Yangtze River estuary

It encompasses 6,340 square kilometers, of which the Xin Pudong Area takes up 522 square kilometers. Within the area there are four key small zones, such as Lujiazui 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 he country, the other three being Beijing, Tianjin, And Chongqing. It is also one of China’s most important industrial and cultural centers. 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 a city with high historical value. The city has 92 museums, 4,199 historical buildings and cultural relics sites.

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 millimeters. The annual average temperature is 15.7℃, the hottest being in August with an average temperature of about 28℃; the coldest is in January, the average temperature being 3℃. Intermittent drizzles in the rainy season range from 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-meter high crenellated city wall and a moat encircled the village to protect it against the frequent incursion of the Japanese pirates. By the 17th 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 center, Shanghai began to build a new deep-water container port in 2002. The first phase of the project including the construction of five 15-meter 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 center project and the international cyber port project. Construction of such a deep-water port, coupled with the other centers, 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 center.

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 centers 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 centers. 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-kilometer-long trip, between Longyang Road Station (Metro Line 2) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport, takes only seven minutes, with a maximum speed of 430 kilometers per hour.

Shanghai’s Industrial Blueprint 上海的工业蓝图

The Shanghai industrial authority has established a five-year development blueprint to turn Shanghai into one of China’s six largest industrial bases. The city will develop information technology, finance, commerce and trade, automobiles, manufacturing and real estate into its six new pillar industries. They will become a major part of the city’s growing economy. Four growing industries including biomedicines, new materials, environmental protection and transport will be encouraged to develop. Priority will also be given to developing the petrochemical and iron and steel industries. As China’s economic center, Shanghai will pay particular attention to developing its banking industry focusing on the stock market, foreign currency exchange and insurance. When these key projects are completed, the local industries will be able to challenge the world’s best when China’s the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. Under the blueprint, the city’s industries will account for one-tenth of the nation’s total industrial output value by 2005.
Shanghai’s per capital GDP exceeded US $ 5,600 in 2003, and is expected to reach US $ 10,000 by 2010.

Shanghai’s Success in the 2010 World Expo Bidding 上海成功申办2010年世博会

On December 3, 2002 China’s dreams for the 2010 World Exposition came true as Shanghai won the bid in the fourth round of voting at the Bureau of International Exhibition’s (BIE) 132nd General Assembly in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Shanghai beat four other cities and won 54 votes out 88 member countries in the final round. The other four competing countries lost out in the order of Poland, Mexico, Russia and finally the Republic of Korea—which lost by 20 votes to China. It was the result of three years of strenuous effort that started at the end of 1999 when China, as the first country, presented its oral application to the Bureau. Its formal application was presented on May2, 2001. In the fourth round of voting at the Bureau’s 132nd General Assembly, 89 BIE members granted 54 votes to Shanghai for the 2010 event to top Poland, Mexico Russia, and the Republic of Korea.

The slogan for the event is “Better city, better life.” The triumph marked the extension of the global event to a developing country for the first time since in debut in 1851 and Shanghai is ready to add a unique touch to the grand occasion. Though all with distinguished characteristics, Shanghai stood out among the five candidate cities with convincing advantages. Bent on becoming an international economic, finance, trade and shipping center, 700-year-old Shanghai has amazed the world with breath-taking changes in its landscape, as well as economic might in recent years. Nonetheless, the country’s sustained rapid economic growth may be the most persuading reason behind the choice. By translating into more opportunities for people in the region and beyond, a thriving Shanghai fits well the aim of the World Exposition to promote the exchange of ideas and development worldwide. The exposition is widely regarded as the economic, science and technology Olympics. In the wake of Beijing’s successful bid to stage the 2008 Olympics. In the wake of Beijing’s successful bid to stage the 2008 Olympics, Shanghai’s victory will further cement the country’s modernization surge.

Welcome to China2Go, the talking Chinese phrase book for Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Palm OS. Featuring crystal clear voice recorded by a real person, this product is a great travel companion and an ideal tool to learn Chinese! With our cutting edge voice compression technology, this product includes more than 1000 phrases, their Chinese translation, and the voice in only a few megabytes. Supports all Windows Mobile Pocket PCs. H&H China2Go Talking Phrase Book for Windows Mobile