Shanghai is one of the most famous cities in China. It was once called the ‘Paris of the East’, but today is regarded to as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’. Shanghai lies at the centre of China’s economic, cultural and commercial growth and is a diverse city that is moving forward at a terrific rate.

This port city can be found at the mouth of Asia’s longest river and has been a commercial port since 1842, and since its conception, it has been open to colonial interest and trade. In its heyday during the 1920s and ‘30s, Shanghai was a hub of nightclubs, French villas and opium dens. Taipans walked with peasants and Jews who had fled persecution in Russia lived peacefully alongside Chinese revolutionaries.

Today, Shanghai draws many parallels to New York. It is a grid-like city with a population of 16 million and one of the world's most crowded metropolises. The Shanghainese have a reputation for being open-minded, glamorous and business-oriented with an enthusiasm for moving with the times. Recently, the city has seen a great deal of change, with many high-rises and architecturally impressive buildings being built.

There’s a whole host of possibilities for tourists visiting the city: cultural museums and art galleries, lush green parks, historical monuments, excellent restaurants and a lively nightlife. There is also a good infrastructure for those bringing their kids to the city and excellent shopping for those that can afford it.

Shanghai's hotels cater to all visitors, boasting family-orientated establishments, those suited to business travellers and hotels for romantic getaways. The hotels can be divided into two categories: modern Western-style hotels that are usually very elegant and well located and a smaller amount of state-run establishments that boast charm, tradition and historical significance. 

The city is home to a number of five-star hotels with Grand Hyatt, JW Marriott and Portman-Ritz-Carlton being household names here. These hotels have become landmarks in their own right. It is always advisable to book your accommodation in advance, especially if you are travelling in peak season. If you are thinking about heading to the city for New Year, it is wise to book months in advance to ensure that you secure a room.

Shanghai, meaning ‘City on the Sea’, is situated on the Yangzi River delta at the point where it meets the Pacific. Until 1842, Shanghai was an insignificant fishing village. After the First Opium War however, the British named Shanghai a treaty port, opening the city to foreign investment and development.

The village soon turned into a city administered by the British, French and Americans, who in turn brought with them their own cultures and ideas. Shanghai quickly became an amalgamation of Chinese traditions and Western values and has remained open to Western influence ever since. The city became an important industrial centre that attracted foreign businessmen (60,000 by the 1930s) and Chinese migrants from other parts of the country.

Shanghai soon became the newest trend, offering visitors the best art galleries, most impressive architecture and greatest business opportunities in Asia. Dance halls, brothels, glitzy restaurants and international clubs were abundant. Unfortunately, with this new found wealth came just as much poverty. Many of the lower-class Chinese provided the cheap labour that kept the city going. 

It was not long before Shanghai became known as the ‘Paris of the East’. It was amid this glamour that the Communist Party held its first meeting in 1921. During the 1930s and ‘40s, the city survived raids, invasions and occupation by the Japanese, and the parties and glamour became a thing of the past.

In 1943, at the height of WWII, most foreigners had fled and Japan ensured the port was closed. Despite the end of the war, fighting continued between Nationalists and Communists, who battled for control of China.

The Communists declared victory in 1949 and established the People's Republic of China. China became closed off to the outside world and Shanghai froze in time. Fashion and music gave way to the strict rules and regulations of communism. Between 1950 and 1980, China experienced one Five Year Plan after another, but the country continued to be devastated by periods of famine, drought and suppression.

Shanghai's industries managed to survive the reality of Communism, although its political status was badly damaged by a purge on Shanghai’s leaders in 1967. Despite this setback, the city hosted the historic meeting that would eventually see an end to Communism in China. Premier Zhou Enlai and US president Richard Nixon signed the Shanghai Communiqué, which enabled China to open talks with the rest of the world.

Today, Shanghai has once again become one of China's most open and relaxed cities. Having welcomed competition and a market-driven economy, it now hosts the country’s stock market, accounts for one-fifth of the country's gross national product and serves as the most important industrial hub in the whole of China. Beauty and charisma coexist with hard business and commercialism. Shanghai is undoubtedly a city of irony and change.

Shanghai experiences four distinct seasons, with spring and autumn being the best months to visit the city. This is largely to do with endurable temperatures and less crowds. However, September and October can sometimes be windy and can even see the odd typhoon.

The peak summer months (July and August) can be unbearably hot with temperatures often reaching in excess of 35°C and 80 per cent humidity. Most of the city’s rain also falls during this time. If you are considering travelling during in these months, it is advisable to book accommodation ahead of time to ensure you get a booking.

Winters can often be bitterly cold with most evenings seeing temperatures fall below 0°C. As they are so cold, sightseeing is often out of the question, as is sitting on a beach. Although somewhat limited, winter sports are offered in some areas. Avoid travelling in January or February when Chinese New Year brings the country to a halt.