Shanghai (; Chinese: 上海, Shanghainese pronunciation [zɑ̃̀.hɛ́] (listen), Standard Mandarin pronunciation: [ʂâŋ.xàɪ] (listen)) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China. The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flowing through it. With a population of 24.89 million as of 2021, Shanghai is the most populous urban area in China and the most populous city proper in the world. It is the only city in East Asia with a GDP greater than its corresponding capital. As of 2018, the Greater Shanghai metropolitan area, which includes Suzhou, Wuxi, Nantong, Ningbo, Jiaxing, Zhoushan, and Huzhou, was estimated to produce a gross metropolitan product (nominal) of nearly 9.1 trillion RMB ($1.33 trillion). Shanghai has been one of the world's major centers for finance, business and economics, research, education, science and technology, manufacturing, tourism, culture, dining, art, fashion, sports, and transportation, and the Port of Shanghai is the world's busiest container port. In 2019, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport was one of the world's 10 busiest airports by passenger traffic, and one of the two international airports serving the Shanghai metropolitan area, the other one being the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.
Originally a fishing village and market town, Shanghai grew in importance in the 19th century due to both domestic and foreign trade and its favorable port location. The city was one of five treaty ports forced to open to European trade after the First Opium War. The Shanghai International Settlement and the French Concession were subsequently established. The city then flourished, becoming a primary commercial and financial hub of Asia in the 1930s. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the city was the site of the major Battle of Shanghai. After the war, with the communists takeover of the mainland in 1949, trade was limited to other socialist countries and the city's global influence declined.
Sadeesh Arumaithurai | Mar 1, 2018
Definitely a must-go for ones who love architecture and design. I visited this in October 2017 and it was very interesting to see how fast and well planned Shanghai was built from such a small fisherman's village. Very well documented for English speaking visitors, staff also assists you pretty good. Definitely recommending this place!
Fra Pham | Nov 23, 2017
This museum it's simply a must to understand how a small fishing village became one of the TOP metropolis in the entire world! I was supposed to see it for a couple of hours but I ended up spending an entire day: such an incredible space on 6 multiple floors, a vast scale model of the entire urban area, 3D rooms, old history collections and virtual reality spots and so on!
Alex Coxall | Sep 2, 2017
Despite sounding like somewhere Alan Partridge would take someone on a first date this place is actually pretty interesting. Inside is a scale model of Shanghai, which as you can imagine is pretty impressive. It lights up as it goes through a speeded up day an night cycle. If you live locally you can probably find your building as well. Please avoid the temptation to dress up as Godzilla and run amok.
Suus Ca | Jul 23, 2017
If you're interested in seeing how a Mega-City is planned I really recommend this place. You get a sense of scale and the whole museum is well planned.There is much more to this museum than just the huge diorama of the city - although that is probably the highlight.There are 5 floors of exhibits and a full size 1930s Shanghai street on the -1 level (metro station).You can learn a lot about old Shanghai and also about general urban modern planning techniques.
Alexandre Jörg Gruß | Jan 24, 2018
Shanghai as a scale model? CHECK ! Very interesting to learn about city planning & development !!
Maria Mounayar | Mar 15, 2018
Interesting to see as it shows how Shanghai transformed from a fishing village to a huge metropolis. Includes photographs of old Shanghai versus now, as well as plans for the future in terms of transportation, sustainability etc. Overall good exhibition, however, if you are in Shanghai for a very short period of time, I would focus more on other attractions.
Robert Kelwin | May 28, 2018
Interesting place to visit to find out a bit more about Shanghais modern history. Very educational. Only takes a couple of hours to do the whole thing, but worth it.
vaghela ashok | May 25, 2018
The Exhibition Center was built as part of the re-development of parkland at the edge of People's Parkand around People's Square in the 1990s and 2000s. The Park and Square together occupy what was once the Shanghai racecourse, and today still make up one of the largest open spaces in central Shanghai. The building was designed by architect Ling Benli of the East China Architecture Design & Research Institute (ECADI), as a harmonious balance to the Grand Theatre, another contemporary building at the other end of People's Square. The Exhibition Center is 43 metres (141 ft) high, has a white aluminium panel cladding and a symbolic membrane structure roof
Hana D | Jun 14, 2018
The first few floors are very simple with old photos and some videos. The higher floors are interesting with case studies of planning at a micro-scale, transportation statistics, and many games and quizzes to play on the screens. The entrance is 30 yuan but if you buy a joint ticket with another tourist attraction then basically the ticket to enter here is free.
Katie Prentice | Jun 30, 2018
This museum is amazing. Seeing how Shanghai has transformed and continues to develop is cool. The full size model is a sight to see. Highly recommended for anyone interested in how cities grow and change.
Richard Lim | Jun 17, 2018
Entry fee is reasonable and lots of exhibits. Quite a nice place to learn about shanghai's history. Has five floors and a cafe. If you have spare time in shanghai it's worth a look although not really on the tourist trail
Rama Permana | Jul 17, 2018
This exhibition center gives you a broad view of Shanghai. There is city miniature on the 2nd level which the real city buildings and skyscrapers based on. There are also historical miniature like old train and market.
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