When the British opened their first concession in 1842, after the first Opium War, Shanghai was little more than a small town supported by fishing and weaving. The French followed in 1847 and the Japanese arrived in 1895 and the city was parcelled up into autonomous settlements, immune from Chinese law. By 1853 Shanghai had a population of 50,000; by 1900 the figure had jumped to 1 million. By the 1930s the city had 60,000 foreign residents and was the busiest international port in Asia.

In the 1920s and 30s Shanghai had a turbulent period as control passed back and forth between Nationalist groups and invading Japanese armies. In 1943 the United States and Great Britain renounced their claims in Shanghai, as did France in 1946. The city was restored to China at the end of the World War II, and the Chinese central government gained control of the entire city for the first time. In May 1949 it fell to the Communist forces.

Since Pudong (East Shanghai) was declared a special development zone in 1990, government and foreign investment has revived Shanghai as an international trade and financial centre.

Today Shanghai is a city that is evolving at a pace unmatched by any other Chinese city, the skyline changing on a daily basis. Shanghai has become one of Asia's most powerful cities, perhaps soon to be its most powerful economically. With 13 million residents Shanghai is China's most populous city and the UN estimates that by 2015 the population will reach 23.4 million. 7 out of every 10 visitors to China now pay a visit here, nearly 2 million foreign visitors per year.

Aware of its past, but always outward-looking, Shanghai is determined to have a pre-eminent role on the world stage. In few other cities in the world can you feel that future pressing so relentlessly, Shanghai is racing full speed towards the future.

How to Get There

Shanghai has two airports: Pudong handles most international flights and some domestic flights; Hongqiao handles the majority of domestic flights. Hongqiao is an 18km taxi ride from the Bund. Pudong takes around an hour by taxi from the Bund. A new high speed train links Pudong with the Shanghai New International Expo Center reaching speeds of 430km/h.

Where to Stay

Grand Hyatt Hotel, 88 Shiji Dadao, Pudong, Tel 5049 1234, Doubles $170-$280

Sofitel Hylands Hotel, 505 Nanjing Donglu, Tel 6351 5888, Doubles $80-$190