Shanghai has a total land area of 6340.5 square kilometers, 0.06% of China’s total territory. Shanghai is divided into 16 districts, 107 sub-district committees, 106 towns and 2 townships. By the end of 2021, the population of permanent residents in Shanghai has reached 24.89 million.
Shanghai is situated between 31°14′ north latitude and 121°29′ east longitude, right on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean, holding the eastern coastal line of the Asian Continent and part of the alluvial plain of the Yangtze River Delta. Shanghai borders Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces to the west. North of the city, the Yangtze River pours into the East China Sea. Thus, Shanghai has become a key port.
With a pleasant northern sub-tropical monsoon climate, Shanghai enjoys four distinct seasons, generous sunshine and abundant rainfall. Its spring and autumn are relatively short compared with summer and winter.
Shanghai is one of the most internationalized cities in China. By the end of 2020, a total of 65 foreign news agencies, 771 regional headquarters of multinational enterprises and 481 foreign invested R&D centers have been established in Shanghai. Meanwhile, Shanghai has issued more than 260 thousand work permits to expatriates, 18% of whom were high-end professionals. Shanghai spent more efforts in attracting foreign talent, with the number and quality of high-end foreign professionals ranked the first in the country. The city was named the most attractive to foreigners for eight consecutive years.
As an international metropolis, by Sep 30, 2021, Shanghai has established sister or friendly relationship with 92 cities (provinces, states, regions, counties or districts) in 59 countries.
The Shanghai spirit lies in "refusing no rivers as the oceans, pursuing excellence, being enlightened, wise and modest", and its character features "openness, innovation and inclusion".
