Shanghai is China's most important industrial and commercial city. It produces machines, chemicals, metals, fertilizers, petroleum products, ships, textiles and consumer goods.

Shanghai is located near the mouth of the Yangtze River on a delta that is only 10 to 20 feet above sea level. In English Shanghai means on the sea or going to the sea. Note from the map of Shanghai that it is located at the confluence of the Huang Pu River and the Suzhou River. In English huangpujiang is yellow-banked river.

The old city is on the west bank of the Huangpu River. North of the old city is the major commercial area. Nanjing Road is the major commercial street. Note the location of Shanghai Number One Department Store. Yen An Road is a major street where Shanghai's administrative offices are located. Western Shanghai is primarily residential and is bounded by Chung Shan Jie on the north and west. There are also residential areas east of the Huangpu River. A major commercial area called Pudong (Eastbank) has been built east of the Huang Pu River. The Hong Kou District is north and east of the Suzhou River and contains many factories. In English Hong Kou means mouth or entrance of the rainbow.

The Municipality of Shanghai consists of the central city and ten adjoining counties. It is directly controlled by the central government in Beijing. In 1970 the Municipality of Shanghai had about 12 million people. There is a twenty square mile central city where the density is 125,000 per square mile, a transition zone of 160 square miles where the density is about 16,000 per square mile, and an agricultural hinterland of 2000 square miles where the density is about 2000 per square mile.

Shanghai's latitude is about 32° N, which is about the same as San Diego, California and Cairo, Egypt. Is average annual temperature is 61°F with a maximum of 80° in July and a minimum of 37°F in January. The rainfall averages 45 inches per year, with the heaviest in June and the lightest in December.