Shanghai, called "Hu" for short, is a bustling metropolis with a total area of 6,341 square kilometers (about 2,448 square miles).

Shanghai is situated along China's coastal line, facing the East China Sea at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Connected with Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in the west, the city is bordered by the East China Sea in the east and Hangzhou Bay in the south. North of the city, the Yangtze River flows into the East China Sea. The name Shanghai means "on the sea".

Today Shanghai stands as the proud symbol of China's rise to economic powerhouse status. With around 17 million people, it is one of the largest urban populations on earth and the largest city in China.

Shanghai is divided into two areas: Puxi (west of the Huang Pu River) and Pudong (east of the Huang Pu River). The most famous attraction in Shanghai is the Bund (Wai Tan) which extends the Shanghai harbour front and has a European feel with its many colonial-style buildings.

West of the Bund is the location of the former International Settlement. One of Shanghai's most famous shopping streets, Nanjing Lu, is located here. South of the Bund is the old Chinese city. It is a maze of small streets with crowded but quaint neighbourhoods. West of the old city is the former French Concession with its many European style residential buildings. Huai Hai Lu is another famous shopping street. “Xin Tian Di”, off Huai Hai Lu, is a fantastic spot for fine dining, evening entertainment and luxury living.

The Hong Qiao Economic Zone and Gubei New Area are located in the western part of Shanghai. Hong Qiao is home to many office buildings, conference centres and hotels. Gubei is a neighbourhood of shops, residential buildings and supermarkets created specifically for expatriates. This is a very popular neighbourhood for both Asian and western expatriate families.

East of the city and on the east side of the Huang Pu River is Pudong. It is designated as China's new financial, economic and commercial centre, with many multinational companies setting up offices here. Pudong's Lu Jia Zui financial neighbourhood is home to two of the worlds tallest buildings and hotels, as well as shopping malls, tourist sights like the Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Aquarium, and some of the city's must luxurious high rise apartments.

Further to the north-east is Jin Qiao, a quiet residential neighbourhood with wide streets, fantastic dining options and some of the city's best international schools. This area resembles an American or European suburb – families ride bikes together, children play sports on the large grassy athletic fields, parishioners gather around churches on Sunday mornings, and restaurants almost all feature al fresco seating.

Shanghai enjoys generous sunshine, abundant rainfall and four distinct seasons, with just-above freezing temperatures during the winter season and a 32 C (90 F) average high during the hottest months of July and August, with occasional heat waves of 40 C (104 F). Winter is typically gray and summers can be thoroughly humid. Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November) in Shanghai are cool and crisp, and generally agreed upon as the best time to be in Shanghai. Winter begins in mid December and usually ends in early March.

The locals speak a dialect called Shanghainese and it is for the most part unintelligible to those from other parts of China. The good news is that the vast majority of people in Shanghai speak Mandarin as well as this is the official dialect of China and can be used and understood all around the country.

Housing in Shanghai

Schooling in Shanghai

Medical Facilities in Shanghai