With a population in the metropolitan area exceeding 20 million, Shanghai is one of the most populous cities in the world. Hugging both sides of the Yangtze River it is not only the biggest city in China but the 8th biggest in the world.

Shanghai has always had a reputation for being an important international trade centre and hold that position today being China's pre-eminent commercial city.

Much of the city is still shaking off the mantle of last century from an architectural viewpoint and is reminiscent of Hong Kong 30 years ago.  Modern shopping complexes have overtaken much of the hawker stalls which used to populate Nanjing Lu one of Shanghai's main arteries.