Shanghai, a municipality directly under the central government of China, is a modern international metropolis known for its inclusivity, pursuit of excellence, openness, and humility.

Located at the Yangtze River estuary in East China and facing the Pacific Ocean, Shanghai forms part of the Yangtze River Delta, one of China's most dynamic, open and innovative regions.

By the end of 2024, the city covered an administrative area of 6,340.5 square kilometers, governed 16 districts and had a permanent population of 24.80 million.

As China's largest economic powerhouse and a key international financial center, Shanghai recorded a GDP of 5.67 trillion yuan ($818 billion) in 2025, ranking fifth among global cities. The city's per capita disposable income reached 92,000 yuan in the same year.

As a major international trade and consumption center, the city also achieved record-high total imports and exports of 4.51 trillion yuan in 2025. The number of tax-refund stores for departing tourists reached 1,837.

Shanghai is a global shipping center and an open gateway. The city is implementing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and accelerating the development of the Waigaoqiao and Hongqiao national import trade promotion and innovation demonstration zones.

Shanghai Port has maintained its position as the world's leading container port for the past 16 consecutive years, handling a record 55.06 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025.

The city is also making significant progress toward becoming an international science and technology innovation center, with R&D expenditure accounting for about 4.5 percent of GDP in 2025. Shanghai is evolving into an internationally influential digital hub, strengthening the foundations for urban digital transformation.

Shanghai remains a popular foreign investment destination, hosting 1,076 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 636 foreign-invested R&D centers in 2025.

The city is also a world-renowned cultural metropolis and international tourist destination. In 2025, the city's museums and art galleries hosted 1,565 cultural exhibitions, attracting 49 million domestic and international visitors. The city welcomed 9.36 million inbound visitors in the same year.

Shanghai's transportation system is becoming more efficient thanks to convenient transfers and smart management. Shanghai also boasts a comprehensive education system, with 69 higher-education institutions.

In 2025, the UNESCO inaugurated its International Research Institute for STEM Education in Shanghai.

The city is home to 1,100 parks, with nearly 90 percent of them open 24/7. That same year, Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve, located on Chongming Island, was recognized as Shanghai's first UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

Looking ahead, Shanghai aims to boost its urban soft power in line with its ambition of becoming a modern socialist metropolis with global influence. The city will showcase its character as "International, Innovative and Inclusive", focus on high-quality development, and transform into an international center for economy, finance, trade, shipping, and science and technology innovation, as well as a globally influential digital city.

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Government Work Report, ThePaper