Shanghai, a major port city on the west coast of the Pacific, is a municipality directly under the central government, covers 6341 square kilometers (145 square miles) and has 1,419 million inhabitants. It is between latitude 314 north and longitude 1219 east and an average annual temperature of 15.7C with an annual rainfall of 1,200 mm.   Located where the Yangtze River, China's largest ri

The Jade Buddha Temple   The Jade Buddha Temple (Yufo Si) was built during the troubled reign of the Qing Emperor Guangxu (1875-1908) and burned down after having been occupied during the 1911 revolution. The temple takes its name from the original two white jade Buddha statues that abbot Hui Gen brought with him from Burma—a sitting statue about 1.95 meters (almost 6 1/2 feet) in height an

Air    Shanghai's international and domestic flights arrive at Pudong International Airport (PVG) while Hongqiao Airport (SHA) generally services domestic destinations. Pudong airport lies 55 km (about 34 miles) outside the city center (People's Square), roughly a 150 RMB ($20) cab ride.   The fastest train in the world, the German-built maglev, whisks passengers from the airpor

Shanghai boasts one of China's best and most distinctive cuisines. Influenced by its position just south of the Yangtze and at the mouth of the huangpu, the region abounds in a selection of frestwater fish and shellfish. Dishes from this area are lightly and delicately seasoned. Shanghai's people have a 'sweet tooth', and more sugar is used in Shanghai than in any other part of China. Shanghai's n

Yuyuan Market Yuyuan Market has an amazing array of traditional Chinese items including paintings by folk artists, pearls from the Taihu Lake, calligraphy, old bank notes and wood carvings. Curio Street at Dongtai Road The Curio Street at Dongtai Road is the antique-hunter's mecca. Slightly over-200-meter long, the street is lined with more than 125 small shops selling a mind-boggling variety o