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The new city that rose from the fields
Shanghai
(Wikipedia,
map) has led much of the modern development of China.
From 1990, Shanghai expanded across the Huangpu River into the fields of Pudong
(Wikipedia),
whose skyscrapers now symbolize the amazing growth of the Chinese economy.
One of the first major constructions in Pudong was the Oriental Pearl Tower,
a television tower (468 m or 1,535 feet tall) shown next
(Wikipedia,
map).
The Oriental Pearl Tower was the tallest structure in China from 1994 to 2007,
when the nearby Shanghai World Financial Center, seen next in two perspectives,
surpassed it with its height of 492 m or 1,614 ft
(Wikipedia,
map).
The Shanghai World Financial Center stands alongside the Jin Mao Tower
(421 m or 1,380 ft at the top of its antenna,
Wikipedia,
map),
shown together below from two sides.
A few steps away the Shanghai Tower is under construction (not shown),
which will be the tallest structure in Shanghai at 632 m or 2,073 ft
(Wikipedia,
map). It should be completed in 2014.
While the number of skyscrapers increases year-by-year (or even month-by-month),
careful planning avoids the creation of "canyon streets"
as happens in too many other cities.
Another symbol of Shanghai's economic clout is its Stock Exchange, seen next.
Financial wealth translates also into extremely pricey housing:
the following apartment towers, overlooking the Huangpu River and the Bund
in the older center of Shanghai, include among the most expensive units in the world
(map).
Puxi, the "older" Shanghai facing Pudong
Seen from Pudong, the Bund
(Wikipedia,
map), shown in the next scrollable panorama,
is the waterfront avenue of older Shanghai along the Huangpu River.
The Bund has many buildings dating from the International Settlement period
of the late 19th to the early 20th centuries.
The Bund's street and park layout has recently been thoroughly rebuilt,
in time for Expo 2010.
One of many attractions in traditional downtown Shanghai is the beautiful
Yuyuan Garden
(Wikipedia,
map).
In its Lotus Pool with overcrowded zigzag bridge stands a pavilion that serves
exquisite tea and traditional snacks.
Another sight, with spectacle, is the modern Shanghai Grand Theater
(Wikipedia,
map), shown next.
It is located in People's Square, once a horserace course.
Pudong Airport
As befits a hypermodern city, Shanghai also has an up-to-date major
international airport, called Pudong Airport, which opened in 1999
(Wikipedia,
map).
One unique feature of Pudong Airport is its maglev connection with Shanghai's
Pudong district, offering the first (and so far only)
commercial high-speed magnetic levitation railway in the world:
since 2004, it travels at up to 431 km/h,
covering 30 km in just over 7 minutes
(Wikipedia).
Pudong Airport's Terminal 1 is illustrated with
the next scrollable 360-degree panorama.
