City Size Shanghai boosts a total area of 6340.5 sq. km with a population of more than 16 million. The port area reaches over 3600 sq. km with a goods throughput of near 200 million tons, accounting for more than 18% of the total throughput in the country. The total amount of commodity imports and exports at the port exceeds US$186 billion, accounting for over 1/8 of the total volume in the country. In 2005,the city realized a gross domestic production of RMB914.4 billion, recording a two-digit growth year on year for the 14th consecutive year, achieving a per capita GDP of US$7300, leading all cities in China. City Features Industry: In addition to features as a port city, Shanghai is also one of the key industrial cities in China, boosting a history of one and half centuries for industrial production with a full spectrum of varieties. For recent years, the industrial production in Shanghai has witnessed rapid advancement, and has formed 6 pillar industries including auto manufacturing, communication and information equipment building, power station complete-set facilities and large-size mechanic & electric equipment manufacturing, petroleum chemical and fine chemical processing, steel manufacturing and biopharmaceutical industry. Shanghai industry in the 21st century has entered a new phase of historical development. Commerce: ----Shanghai has always been renowned as a "Shopping Heaven". Since the reforming and opening up, Shanghai's commerce industry has undergone fast development. Continuous updating and reconstruction has been made based on the formal Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road Shopping Street and Yuyan Garden, to include Shanghai Railway Station, Xujiahui Commercial Zone, Pudong Zhangyang Road, underground marketplace at People's Square, etc. into its commercial network. In addition, various large or small sized chain stores have covered all over the city, including the famous foreign-invested enterprises of Metro from Germany, Carrefour from France, Lotus from Thailand, Lawson from Japan, etc. Finance: ----Shanghai is a financially developed city. As early as in 1930s-1940s, Shanghai was already a financial centre in the far east. In recent years, a financial institution system, led by the central bank, with state-owned commercial banks as the principal part and with domestic and foreign financial institutions co-existing for mutual development, has been formed in Shanghai. It is worthwhile to mention that a good number of foreign banks has set up their branches and representative offices in Shanghai, which makes the financial hub of Shanghai an increasingly important role in the world. International Service Trade: ----For recent years, with the fast increase of import and export trade and introduction of large amount of foreign capital, the international service trade has witnessed rapid development. Shanghai has become one of the few central cities with advanced exhibition industry in the country. A new global procurement transaction platform has been initially formed and displays momentum of rapid growth. With the completion of Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) in Pudong, the total area of exhibition venues in Shanghai reaches 145,000 sq.m, 8.5 times more than that in early 1980s. The successful staging of top-level and large-scale trade fairs represented by Shanghai International Industry Fair, the East China Import & Export Commodity Fair (ECF), etc., has greatly improved Shanghai's position as a national central metropolis in Eastern China and even the whole country, providing exhibitors and buyers from home and abroad with a more professional environment and more compact time schedule, greatly improving the efficiency and quality of transactions and setting an example for the trade fair economy. Other foreign-affair related service industries in Shanghai also developed rapidly, esp. in the fields of human resources, consulting, economic exchange services, etc. The official established of Shanghai East Best International (Group) Co., Ltd approved by Shanghai Municipal Government symbolizes that the international service trade in Shanghai has entered the brand new development phase of accelerated integration into the world economy, offering foreign enterprises' representative offices in Shanghai, investors and merchants with more standardized comprehensive services of greater convenience. Traffic & Accommodation: ----As an international metropolis, Shanghai is the world-famous airport hub, providing international connections with over 60 major cities all over the world through its two international airports, boosting an annual throughput of 16.40 million passengers. With the completion of all four runways at Pudong International Airport, the annual throughput will be increased to 100 million passengers. Shanghai is also an important railway hub in the east of China, connecting Hong Kong and Macao to the south and Russia and Europe to the north and Mid Asia to the west. There are more than 200 star-level hotels in Shanghai, accommodating approximately 2 million travellers and businessmen from overseas every year. Key Tourist Spots: ----New Bund, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Tower, Two Bridges on Huangpu River, Century Park, Shanghai Science & Technology Museum, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Site of CPC's First Nat'l Congress, Former Residence of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Great World Entertainment Centre, Longhua Temple Tower, Yufo Temple, Xujiahui Catholic Cathedral, Mount Sheshan, Guyi Garden, Zhujiajiao Old Town, etc. For more information, please visit: www.shanghai.gov.cn