Shanghai (Think Before You Act)

Shanghai is the largest city in China with a population of 21,040,000 and the third largest city proper in the world (only behind Tokyo and Paris). It is one of the Four Tigers of China (the other three include Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taipei), with a total population of 21,040,000 as of 2012. It is one of the city municipalities in China (including Beijing, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Taipei, Tianjin, Chang’an, Ulaanbaatar, and Chongqing). It is one of the world’s few global cities, with a great influence in commerce, culture, finance, media, fashion, technology, transport, education, and the space programs.

It is located at the mouth of the Yangtze River in the Yangtze River Delta in Eastern China. The city municipality borders the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces to the west, and it sits next to the East China Sea in the east.

Shanghai was once a fishing and textiles village. However, during the 19th century, it was a favorable port location during the westernization of China, a good place for the rise of industry. It was home to some of the nation’s new city projects, where at least at that time 5 million people moved to the new city. It was the country’s beacon of economic influence at that time and still serves that purpose today. It is also home of the Shanghai International Settlement, where it serves as one of the world’s global economic houses.

Shanghai has been a famous tourist destination, renowned for numerous historical landmarks, famed city districts, gardens, parks, museums, hotels, and souvenirs. Some of these places include the Bund, City God Temple, the Pudong skyline, and the Yuyuan garden. Many people have described Shanghai as the “showpiece” of the economic, political, and military power of China.''' '''